, 



--^^fp,^ 

; 

^^^x  OF  meT}^ 

JUL  }  >.  1924 


Division     -tj  O  ^  r  ^  I 

Section      .M32. 


CHRIST:  THE   GOD  MAN. 

Typograviire — Hofmann. 


ASPECTS  OF  CHRIST. 


STUDIESl 


A 


JUL  J  -^  1924 


\ 


OF   THE 


MODEL  LIFE. 


BY 


BUKDETT  HART,  D.D, 


NEW  YOEK : 

E.  B.  TREAT,  5  COOPER  UNION. 

1892. 


^       COPYRIGHT.    ^C 


U©  ©BE 

Mbo  wftb  mc  bas  Unoereb  lana  fn  tbc 

(Balleri?  ot  Ibolp  Scripture 

^Before  tbe  one  portraiture 

m  Ibim 

Mbom  not  bavino  seen  we  love 

Snt>  wbose  Blesseb  iface 

me  Ibope 
Bre  long  to   see  togetber 


IFntrobuctor^* 


It  was  in  the  soft  atmosphere  of  the  home  of  a 
scholar  and  teacher  that  I  first  saw  the  com- 
posite photographs,  which,  in  that  instance,  com- 
bined and  expressed  the  strongest  facial  traits  of 
his  family  and  of  a  class  of  students  who  had 
been  under  his  instruction  in  a  striking  portrait 
of  each  group. 

It  was  the  phenomenal  and  weird  workman- 
ship of  light. 

Unique,  condensed,  unified,  character  was 
represented  b}^  the  combined  result. 

It  were  impossible  to  reduce  into  one  personi- 
fication the  manifold  Aspects  of  Christ.  As 
even  the  world  itself  would  not  contain  the 
books  that  should  be  written  to  fully  set  forth 
all  the  things  that  Jesus  did,  if  they  should  be 
written  every  one,  so  the  representation  of  Him 
would  be  imperfect  however  multiplied  and 
varied  might  be  the  forms  and  statements  which 
should  be  intended  to  characterize  Him.  Not 
only  is  Humanity  fully  indwelling  in  Him,  but 
Divinity  is  expressed  in  Him  as  well.  When  we 
have  said  all,  tliat  which  remains  unsaid  is  greater 
than  all  that  is  spoken. 

May  the  perusal  of  these  essays,  a  few  out  of 
many  that  might  be  written  of  the  impressive 
Aspects  of  the  Christ,  quicken  our  appreciation 
of  the  Divine  Redeemer  and  deepen  our  love  for 
Him  who  first  loved  us. 

BuRDETT  Hart. 

New  Haven,  1892. 


ILLUSTRATIONS. 


Christ  ;  the  God- Man Frontispiece. 

\_Hofmann.\ 

PAGE 

Healing  the  Sick,  in  the  Temple 43 

\Benj.   West.\ 

The  Great  Teacher 69 

\Le  Loir.} 

The  Commemorative  Feast 169 

[Rubens.] 


CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER   I.  PAGE 

Christ  the  Pre-eminent  One 9 

CHAPTER  II. 
Christ  in  Childhood 21 

CHAPTER  III. 
Christ  tlie  Divine  Carpenter 31 

CHAPTER  IV. 
The  Power  and  Fame  of  Christ 43 

CHAPTER  V. 
Homes  and  Friends  of  Christ 55 

CHAPTER  VI. 
Clirist  as  an  Ethical  Teacher 69 

CHAPTER  VII. 
Christ  the  Saviour  of  Men 81 

CHAPTER  VIII. 
The  Indwelling  Christ 93 

CHAPTER  IX. 
Christ's  Presence  in  Perplexity 107 

CHAPTER  X. 

Beauties  of  the  Christ-Life. . 117 


CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER  XI.  PAGE 

Christ  the  Confiding  Friend 129 

CHAPTER  XH. 
Christ  in  Sympathy  with  the   Sorrowing 139 

CHAPTER  XIII. 
Clirist  the  Zealous  Leader 153 

CHAPTER  XIV. 
Christ  at  the  Commemorative  Feast 169 

CHAPTER  XV. 
Christ  the  Bosom   Friend 181 

CHAPTER  XVI. 
Christ  the  Enliglitener  of   Men 193 

CHAPTER  XVII. 

Christ  Manifest  to  All 205 

CHAPTER  XVIII. 
Tiie  Unselfish  Clirist 221 

CHAPTER  XIX. 
Clirist  the  Revealer  of  God 223 

CHAPTER  XX. 

Christ  the  People's  Preacher 247 

CHAPTER  XXI. 
Christ  the  Unchanging  Friend 259 

CHAPTER  XXII. 

Christ's  Claim  on  Men  of  Influence 277 


THE  MODEL  LIFE. 


I. 

CHRIST  THE  PRE-EMINENT  ONE. 

]HE  foremost  thought  of  the  world  to-day 
is  of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ. 
Other  great  matters  indeed  are  on  the 
minds  of  men.  There  never  was  a  time  when 
so  much  attention  was  given  to  the  development 
of  mechanical  and  physical  forces  as  is  given  at 
this  day.  Great  as  have  been  the  achievements 
of  the  recent  past  on  all  this  line  of  results,  stu- 
dious and  inventive  and  productive  research  is 
not  satisfied.  Greater  power  is  called  for.  The 
latent  and  unemployed  energies  of  nature  are  to 
be  discovered  and  evoked  and  put  to  use. 

There  never  was  a  time  when  so  much  heroic 
and  laborious  study  was  given  to  physics,  as  is 
given  in  our  day.  Nature,  in  its  laws,  in  its 
arcana,  in  its  manifestations,  is  fairly  laid  siege 
to  by  students,  who,  with  reverent  devotion  and 
untiring  energ}^  seek  to  know  what  demonstra- 


10  THE    MODKL    LIFE. 

tions  arc  awaiting  them  in  the  world-old  labora- 
tories, by  what  subtle  chemistries  the  great  ele- 
ments of  creation  are  kept  in  order,  and  what 
light  may  be  given  by  the  hitherto  unread 
records  to  that  which  was  before  discovered. 

There  never  was  a  time  when  the  laws  of 
social  life,  the  principles  which  should  be  con- 
trolling in  the  relation  of  men  with  men,  were 
receiving  such  investigation  as  they  now  are. 
The  world  never  had  so  many  good  homes  as  it 
has  to-day.  The  institutions  for  the  relief  of 
human  ills  and  for  the  comfort  of  the  unfor- 
tunate, now  surpass  any  that  have  heretofore 
been  known.  The  great  hospital  at  Greenwich 
publishes  over  its  inviting  gates  that  it  is  kept 
open  for  the  sailors  of  all  nations.  Human 
brotherhood  is  coming  to  the  front.  Great 
statesmen  are  seeking  to  solve  the  problems 
which  not  only  entei^  into  the  current  history  of 
their  respective  nations,  but  which  affect  the 
relations  of  all  nations.  Education — what  a 
hold  it  has  on  best  minds  !  Reform — how  ar- 
dent are  its  apostles!  Progress — how  deter- 
mined on  every  line  aic  its  pr(^mulgators ! 
There  is  an  aroused  intellectual  activity,  a  fiery 
zeal  like  that  of  crusaders,  a  generous  charit)', 
a  cordial  recognition  of  what  is  worthy,  a  signifi- 
cant unselfishness  in  tlie  matters  of  the  com- 
mon humanity,  which  mark  our  day  with  red 
letters  in  the  calendar  c^f  the  nations.  The  com- 
munity of  })i€n,  of  mankind,  is  getting  enlarged 


CHRIST   THE    PRE-EMINENT    ONE.  11 

recognition.  However  strong  tiie  local  pride 
may  be,  however  intense  the  patriotic  sentiment 
may  be,  it  is  felt  that  there  is  a  brotherhood 
which  is  bounded  by  n(^  territorial  lines,  and  is 
constrained  within  no  narrow  places. 

But  great  as  are  these  subjects  of  thought  and 
activit}',  absorbing  as  they  are  with  the  special- 
ists, who  are  devoted  to  their  own  lines  of  inves- 
tigation, it  is  very  plainly  clear  that,  in  the 
world's  thoughts  and  among  the  world's  forces, 
there  is  a  Person  who  is  pre-eminent.  Christ  is 
Lord  and  Master.  The  wfjrld's  intellect  bows 
before  Him.  The  world's  progress  yields 
place  for  Him.  The  world's  kingdoms  recog- 
nize the  supremacy  of  His  kingdom.  The 
order  of  the  world  and  the  adjustment  of  human 
relations  are  "  that  in  all  things  He  might  have 
the  pre-eminence." 

This  is  seen,  in  the  first  place,  in  the  fact  that 
account  is  taken  of  Christ  in  each  separate 
realm  of  investigation  and  activity.  Statesman- 
ship, science,  social  progress,  philosophies,  do 
homage  to  the  Lord  Jesus.  If,  in  only  one 
department  of  human  labor  He  were  owned  as 
Lord,  He  would  not  have  necessarily  the  pre- 
eminence. But  if  in  all  departments  this  be 
true,  if  the  statesmen  of  largest  forecast,  and  the 
naturalists  of  deepest  investigation,  and  the 
hardest  students  of  social  science,  and  the 
philosophers  who  do  the  most  patient  work, 
accord   to  Christ  lordship,  and  hold  themselves 


12  THE    MoDKI,    LIFE. 

ill  their  various  duties  as  His  servants,  then  it  is 
plain  tliat  so  far  He  has  the  pre-eminence.  There 
may  be  men  in  all  and  each  of  these  spheres  of 
thought  and  action  who  do  not  own  Christ,  who 
reject  the  revelation  of  Him,  and  who  deny  all 
Godhead  and  so  all  manifestation  of  God.  But 
these  are  exceptions.  A  large  proportion  of 
these  leaders  are  personally  loyal  to  Christ:  are 
professed  Christians.  Another  proportion  ac- 
knowledge His  claims  though  they  may  not 
have  individually  given  their  saving  faith  to 
Him.  The  doubters  are  half-inclined  toward 
Him.  And  the  open  rejecters  are  few.  One  of 
the  first  leaders  of  the  world  to-day,  the  man 
whose  influence  is  largest,  is  one  whose  supreme 
trust  is  in  Christ  as  a  personal  Saviour.  When 
you  read  of  such  a  man,  with  the  world's  burdens 
that  are  upon  him,  with  responsibilities  enough 
for  many  men,  taking  into  his  study  the  dis- 
obedient and  reckless  son  of  a  helpless  woman, 
and  there  talking  with  him  and  praying  with 
him  and  urging  him  to  a  new  life,  you  under- 
stand that  there  is  the  supremacy  of  a  divine 
Saviour  in  the  life  of  that  great  leader  before 
which  are  willingly  subordinated  all  measures 
and  choices  and  affections  to  which  his  time  and 
thought  and  energ}'  are  given.  There  can  be 
no  doubt  who  has  the  pre-eminence. 

And  when  you  hear  the  man  who  is  close  to 
him  in  the  world's  leadership  acknowledging 
that  his  great  career  would  be  a  failure  except 


CHRIST    THE    PRE-EMINENT    ONE.  13 

for  the  faith  in  the  Redeemer  which  insures  his 
future,  you  understand  that  above  any  princi- 
pality in  human  empire  is  the  sovereignty  of 
the  divine  Saviour  who  can  command  the 
supreme  allegiance  of  such  a  mind.  In  effect, 
the  same  thing  is  true  in  each  sphere  of  respon- 
sibility and  labor.  It  is  not  loyalty  to  Confucius 
which  is  controlling  with  our  leaders  to-day.  It 
is  not  lo)Mlty  to  Budda  which  challenges  the 
first  attention.  It  is  not  loyalty  to  heathen 
mythologies,  nor  to  nature,  nor  to  humanity, 
nor  to  conquering  mind,  which  draws  forth  the 
devotion  of  our  foremost  thinkers  and  workers. 
Christ  has  the  place  of  loyalty  and  of  love. 

As  the  first  hour  of  every  day  was  given  to  com- 
munion with  Christ  in  His  word  and  in  prayer 
by  a  most  successful  merchant,  who  has  lately 
closed  his  service  with  us,  so  the  first  place  in 
affection  and  in  service  is  given  to  Him  by  those 
whom  the  world  most  trusts  and  to  whom  it 
looks  for  guidance  to-day,  and  that  not  in  a 
single  sphere  of  service  alone,  but  in  each 
separate  realm  of  investigation  and  activity. 

This  is  seen,  in  the  second; place,  in  the  fact 
that  the  impulse  of  the  sublime  moral  forces 
which  are  moving  in  society  comes  from  the 
love  of  Christ.  There  is  a  love  of  humanity  for 
humanity's  sake.  There  are  men  who  are 
engaged  in  great  moral  work  who  are  only 
philanthropists.      There    are    those    even     who 


14  THE    MODEL    LIFE. 

deny    Christ    who   are   the  advocates   of  great 
moral  principles.     But  all  this  is  exxeptional. 

The  sublime  movements  for  the  world's  moral 
renovation,  which  are  systematically  and  strenu- 
ously carried  forward,  with  courage  in  their  ex- 
ecution and  with  faith  in  their  triumph,  have  their 
profound  impulse  in  the  love  of  Christ.  Out  of 
Christian  nations,  and  with  the  support  of 
Christian  societies,  and  with  the  encouragement 
of  Christian  sympathy  and  prayers,  proceed 
those  world-wide  charities  which  aim  at  the  bring- 
ing up  of  the  whole  race  of  mankind,  from  night 
and  chaos  and  barbarism,  from  gloomy  and  cruel 
heathenism,  from  blood  and  wars  and  savagery, 
into  order  and  peace  and  liberty,  into  the  com- 
forts of  civilization  and  into  the  blessings  of 
Christianized  society.  The  men  who  to-day  are 
effectively  laboring  in  India  and  China  and  Japan, 
in  Turkey  and  Egypt  and  the  islands  of  the 
sea,  are  men  in  whom  the  love  of  Christ  is  a 
master-passion.  They  are  men  like  the  veteran 
Moffat,  who,  in  a  great  old  age,  has  lately  died 
in  England,  leaving  light  to  shine  after  him 
forever  across  the  Dark  Continent :  like  Living- 
stone, who  was  found  dead  on  his  knees,  with 
his  face  on  the  soil  of  the  land  for  which  his  life 
was  consecrated  and  his  last  prayer  given. 
They  are  men  with  Apostolic  zeal  :  men  with 
the  martyr  firmness  :  men  with  prophetic  fore- 
sight :  men  to  whom  Christ  is  first  and  last,  is  all 
and  in  all. 


CUEIST   THE    PRE-EMINENT   ONE.  15 

And  not  only  is  this  true  of  these  comprehen- 
sive charities.  It  is  strikingly  true  of  those  more 
contracted  and  localized  reformatory  movements 
which  affect  classes,  which  strike  at  single  vices, 
which  aim  at  the  overthrow  of  national  evils. 

That  revolution  which  we  have  seen  in  our 
day,  in  our  land,  which  has  entirely  changed  the 
status  of  one-tenth  of  our  population,  which 
converted  the  nation  from  a  slave  power  to  a 
free  empire,  which  placed  us  in  an  entirely  new 
relation  toward  the  other  nations  of  the  world, 
had  its  dominant  and  unconquerable  impulse  in 
love  to  Christ.  That  revolution  was  one  which 
could  no  more  be  stopped  than  tlie  New  Testa- 
ment could  be  annihilated.  And  the  fact  that  it 
eventuated  in  such  dreadful  issues,  destroying  so 
much  wealth  and  so  many  lives,  only  demon- 
strates how  strong,  how  invincible  the  impulse 
is  that  in  all  things  Christ  may  have  the  pre- 
eminence. 

That  other  revolution  which  is  working  to- 
ward the  freedom  of  our  communities  from  in- 
temperance, which  is  seeking  by  moral  forces  to 
change  the  drinking  habits  of  society,  to  change 
the  laws  by  which  the  manufacture  and  sale  of 
poisonous  drinks  may  be  restricted,  is  one  that 
can  be  successfully  carried  forward  only  by  mo- 
tives drawn  from  the  love  of  Christ.  The  poor 
drunkard,  victim  of  a  debasing  appetite,  must  be 
looked  at  as  redeemed  by  the  blood  of  Christ, 
and   therefore   to  be  labored  for  that  the  Re- 


16  THE    MODEL    LIFE. 

deemer's  work  for  him  may  not  be  in  vain.  The 
woes  of  drunkards'  homes,  of  wives  and  chil_ 
dren,  the  guilt  of  those  who  tempt  the  young 
and  who  encourage  the  debauched,  must  be 
measured  by  those  who  estimate  all  moral  action 
by  the  love  of  the  Saviour  and  the  peril  of  the 
soul. 

The  inspiration  of  the  men  and  women  who 
are  now  giving  their  lives  to  secure  social  order 
and  worth  and  purity,  is  the  pre-eminence  of 
their  Master  and  their  Redeemer.  Take  that 
away,  and  these  moral  forces  that  are  electrical 
in  the  atmosphere  and  that  are  regenerative  in 
society  would  expire.  It  is  this  that  keeps  the 
churches  open  and  makes  the  ministry  effective, 
that  gathers  the  prayer-meeting  and  the  Sunday 
School,  that  gives  so  much  influence  to  women  in 
their  sanctified  endeavors,  and  that,  through  the 
greed  and  grime  of  politics  will,  on  occasion, 
move  the  voters,  in  solid  columns,  to  put  prin- 
ciple above  spoils  and  to  recognize  the  suprem- 
acy of  moral  convictions. 

It  is  this  that  makes  such  a  man  as  Von  Moltke 
the  leader  of  temperance  reform  in  Germany, 
that  gives  such  popular  power  to  the  eloquence 
of  Senator  Wilson  in  Iowa  when  he  calls  on  the 
young  men  of  that  State  in  this  crisis  of  the 
reform  there,  "  to  keep  in  line  with  the  better 
thought  and  the  moral  forces  of  the  times."  It 
is  the  pre-eminence  of  Christ,  of  His  Person,  of 
His  authority,  of  His  love,  that  is  thq  controlling 


CHRIST   THE   PRE-EMiNKNT    ONE.  It 

impulse   of  all   that    moral  revolution   which   Is 
working  changes  in  the  nations. 

And,  once  more,  this  is  seen  in  the  fact 
that  Christ  has  the  first  place  in  the  confi- 
dence and  affection  of  His  friends.  There  is 
no  divided  dominion  here.  When  the  test 
comes,  in  times  of  great  public  trial,  in  per- 
sonal sorrow,  in  the  final  struggle,  it  is  seen 
that  Christ  is  the  Lord  of  His  people.  They 
show  it  too  little  on  ordinar}^  occasions.  It 
is  not  marked  enough  in  ever^'-day  life.  But 
the  latent  principle  is  in  every  truly  redeemed 
soul.  Men  and  women  and  children  have  not 
shrunk  from  severest  persecutions  and  terrible 
martyrdoms  to  make  it  known  that  Christ  was 
first.  In  the  disappointment  and  suffering  which 
have  shrouded  individual  lives,  how  clearly  and 
beautifully  has  it  shone  forth  that  He  was  trust- 
ed, that  He  was  the  joy  of  His  people  in  their 
bitterest  sorrow,  that  He  was  their  strength  in 
their  utter  weakness,  that  He  was  with  them,  an 
unfailing  friend,  when  all  other  friends  failed. 
And  in  the  last  great  agony,  the  whole  world 
dark,  and  every  human  support  fallen,  His  name 
has  held  undying  charm,  and  His  presence  has 
sustained  the  lonel}^  but  victorious  soul.  That 
beautiful  queen,  whom  all  German}'  idolizes, 
whose  gieat  portrait  is  the  charm  oi  Cologne, 
whose  pictures  are  beloved  in  every  city  of  the 
proud  empire,  whose  sweet  name  sounds  in  the 
love-songs  and  the  battle-odes  of  a  grand  people, 


18  THE    MODEL    LIFE. 

as  slie  breatlied  her  brave  life  away  in  the  Villa 
of  Hohen-Zieritz,  with  those  who  were  dearest 
to  her,  helpless  to  save  her,  turned  from  king 
and  friend  with  her  dying  prayer,  "  O  Jesus 
make  it  easy." 

In  humble  homes,  He  has  been  the  Light  of 
the  poor  man's  cottage,  and  the  feeble  saint,  ex- 
piring there,  with  little  of  worldly  comfort  and 
the  homely  attentions  of  faithful  friends,  has 
lifted  up  the  same  pra3^er  to  the  same  Deliverer, 
who  is  no  respecter  of  persons.  From  regal 
couch  and  from  hard  bed  He  receives  the  same 
devoted  loyalt}^,  the  same  love  and  trust,  which 
death  only  intensifies.  We  cannot  doubt  His 
place  with  His  friends.  They  who  know  Him 
best,  love  Him  most.  They  who  dwell  and 
walk  nearest  to  Him,  give  Him  the  divinest 
pre-eminence. 

What  place  has  our  Lord  with  us?  We  may 
well  put  to  ourselves  to-day  this  question.  He 
is  not  here  in  personal  and  visible  presence.  But 
His  representatives  are  here.  His  Cliiirch  is 
here.  What  is  our  relation  to  His  church,  which 
is  His  body  ?  Are  we  giving  it  foremost  place 
in  our  affections  and  in  our  service?  Are  we 
willing  to  deny  ourselves  for  it?  Will  we  see  to 
it  that  the  Church,  in  which  the  Lord  dwells, 
lacks  nothing  which  is  for  its  honor  and  prog- 
ress in  the  world  ;  that  it  has  our  prayers,  our 
money,  our  service  ? 

His  souls  are  here  :  the  souls  which  at  t-reat 


CHRIST   THE   PRE-EMINENT   ONE.  19 

cost  He  redeemed  ;  the  souls  that  He  wants  fcjr 
the  gems  of  His  crown  and  the  glory  of  His 
kingdom.  Will  we  seek  to  save  them  for  Him  ? 
Will  we  seek,  by  self-denial,  by  parting  with 
that  which  we  prize  the  most,  by  giving  that 
which  we  are  accustomed  to  call  our  own,  to 
bring  the  unsaved  world  to  Him,  so  "  that  in  all 
things  He  might  have  the  pre-eminence?" 

His  viinistry  is  here  :  the  ambassadorship  on 
behalf  of  Christ,  commissioned  to  entreat  men  to 
be  reconciled  to  God  ;  the  ministry  of  reconcil- 
iation, to  declare  to  the  world  that  God  was  in 
Christ  reconciling  the  world  unto  Himself  ;  by 
manifestation  of  the  truth  to  commend  itself  to 
every  man's  conscience  in  the  sight  of  God.  It 
is  for  us  to  aid  that  ministry,  to  give  it  our  sym- 
pathy and  affection  and  support,  that  it  may  have 
success  in  the  great  work  for  which  itis  appoint- 
ed. It  stands  for  Christ :  it  announces  its  divine 
message  in  His  name  ;  and  its  one  mission,  its 
absorbing  undertaking,  through  the  preaching 
of  the  gospel  and  through  manifold  labor,  is 
"  that  in  all  things  He  might  have  the  pre-emi- 
nence." 


11. 


CHRIST   IN  CHILDHOOD. 


HE  boy  Jesus  was  twelve  years  old  when 
He  was  so  spoken  of.  I  suppose  that,  to 
look  at,  He  was  much  like  many  another 
boy  of  that  winning  age.  That  is  the  real,  sweet- 
est bo3''-age.  The  reserve  and  rawness  of  the 
child  have  passed  ;  the  self-assertion  and  over- 
confidence  of  a  few  years  later  have  not  begun. 
It  is  the  prime  of  boyhood. 

Who  would  not  have  been  glad  to  have  seen 
the  boy  Jesus  then?  You  think  of  other  boys 
whom  it  would  have  been  a  pleasure  to  have 
seen  and  known.  Such  was  the  bo}'  Moses,  who 
was  taken  out  of  the  ark  of  bulrushes  by  the 
daughter  of  a  great  king,  and  was  brought  up  in 
the  palaces  of  Egypt :  a  beautiful  boy,  as  the 
story  goes,  so  that  those  who  passed  him  turned 
to  look  at  him  again.  When  he  was  twelve 
years  old,  he  was  studying  under  careful  and 
wise  teachers,  who  instructed  him  in  the  learn- 
ing of  the  Egyptians,  then  the  most  cultured  of 
all  peoples.  It  is  told  of  him  that  finding  the 
crown  of  the  monarch  one  day,  he  sent  it  spin- 
ning across  the    floor   with   a  kick  of  his  foot,  as 

[21] 


22  THE    MODEL    LIFE. 

though  the  crown  were  only  fit  for  his  play- 
thing. 

Such  was  the  bo}-  Alexander,  who  when  he 
was  thirteen  years  of  age  was  placed  under  the 
tutelage  of  the  great  Aristotle;  one  the  con- 
queror of  the  world  in  arms,  the  other  the  con- 
queror of  the  world  in  philosophy.  When  I 
was  twelve  3'ears  old  I  used  to  read  with  pride 
how  Alexander  subdued  Bucephalus,  a  grand 
war-horse,  that  afterward  carried  his  master 
through  many  famous  battles.  He  was  so  fierce 
that  no  one  dared  to  mount  him.  But  Alexander 
saw  what  the  trouble  was  and  was  vexed  that  so 
noble  an  animal  shouUl  be  rejected  for  want  of 
skill  to  handle  him.  His  father  gave  hitn  per- 
mission to  try  it,  and  the  young  prince  soothing 
the  proud  animal  with  gentle  tones  and  strokes 
sprang  upon  his  back  and  gave  him  the  rein  and 
subdued  him,  so  that  afterward  no  one  could 
mount  Bucephalus  but  Alexander. 

Such  was  the  boy  Luther,  who  when  he  was  at 
school  at  Magdeburg,  with  other  boys,  sang  at 
t'.ie  doors  of  the  houses  for  bread,  and  cried 
"  Panem  propter  Deum,"  and  who  afterward 
became  the  great  Reformer  and  changed  the 
state  of  the  whole  world  by  exalting  the  Bible. 
This  fine  German  bo}'  with  his  sweet  voice  and 
his  thrilling  songs  won  the  heart  of  Madame 
Cotta,  who  t(jok  him  into  her  house  and  taught 
him  music  and  made  a  good  home  for  him. 

Such  was  the  boy  George  IVashington,  our  own 


CHRIST   IN    CHILDHOOD.  23 

American  boy,  too  good  to  tell  a  lie  and  brave 
as  Alexander,  with  a  fiery  horse  which  he 
mounted,  but  which,  unlike  Bucephalus,  in  the 
contest  burst  a  blood-vessel  and  died.  Washing- 
ton became  a  man  of  prayer,  having  early 
learned  to  pray,  and  not  forgetting,  as  some  men 
do,  in  manhood,  the  good  lessons  and  habits  of 
boyhood. 

Many  others  too  we  can  think  of,  some  of 
them  now  living,  whom  it  would  have  been  good 
to  see  in  their  fair  boyhood.  But  of  all  boys 
who  ever  lived  in  any  land,  I  think  we  would  all 
prefer  to  have  seen  and  known  the  boy  Jesus. 
He  was  different  from  all  other  boj's.  He  knew 
more  than  Moses,  who  was  learned  in  all  the 
wisdom  of  the  Egyptians.  He  was  braver  than 
Alexander,  and  conquered  more  of  the  world 
than  that  great  conqueror.  He  had  a  heavier 
task  than  Luther  and  did  more  for  every  land 
than  Washington  did  for  our  great  land. 

What  was  it  that  made  Him  so  different  from 
other  boys?  His  earthly  parents  were  no  better 
than  the  parents  of  many  children.  His  schools 
were  not  as  good  as  the  schools  we  have.  The 
society  in  which  He  moved  was  not  as  refined 
and  cultured  as  much  other  society.  The  time 
in  which  he  lived  was  not  as  enlightened  as 
many  other  times  in  the  world's  history. 

Yet  the  boy  Jesus  was  the  first  Boy  of  all  the 
boys  of  the  world.  There  was  more  to  him  : 
He  was  fairer  and  more  lovely  :     He  stood  higher 


2-1:  THE    MODKI.    J>IFE. 

in  every  worth}'  respect  tlian  any  otlicr  boy  has 
stood.  Men  and  women  seeing  Him  would  see 
that  there  was  something  finer,  nobler,  more 
attractive,  more  heavenly  in  Ilim  than  in  any 
other  boy  they  had  ever  seen.  The  apocryphal 
stories,  as  they  arc  called,  that  is,  stories  that  are 
fictitious  and  have  no  real  basis,  that  are  told 
about  Him,  show  that  those  who  invented  them 
and  those  who  handed  them  down  from  age  to 
age,  thought  He  was  a  peculiar  bo}'.  He  was 
Wonderful. 

There  is  ver}-  little  that  we  certainly  know 
about  His  boyhood.  A  few  words  in  the  his- 
tories of  the  gospels  include  it  all.  They  tell  us 
that  His  parents,  Joseph  and  Mary,  dwelt  in 
Nazareth,  an  obscure  town  in  one  of  the  pictur- 
esque valle3's  of  Galilee.  We  read,  "  And  the 
child  grew,  and  waxed  strong,  filled  with  wis- 
dom ;  and  the  grace  of  God  was  upon  Him." 
They  tell  us,  that  when  He  was  twelve  years 
old,  His  parents  went  up  to  Jerusalem  at  the  feast 
of  the  passover,  after  the  custom  of  the  Hebrew 
people  :  that  when  they  had  fulfilled  the  usual 
observances  and  were  returning,  the  boy  Jesus 
tarried  behind  in  Jersusalem  ;  and  His  parents 
knew  it  not;  but  supposing  Him  to  be  in  the 
company  of  their  kinsfolk  and  acquaintance  they 
went  a  day's  journey  :  then  seeking  Him  and  not 
finding  Him,  they  returned  to  the  city,  looking 
for  Him  as  they  went  :  that  after  three  days  the\' 
found  Him  in  the  temple,  sitting  in  the  midst  of 


CHRIST    IN    CHILDHOOD,  25 

the  doctors,  both  hearing-  them  and  asking-  them 
questions:  and  all  that  heard  Him  were  amazed 
at  His  understanding  and  His  answers :  that 
wlien  His  [)arcnts  saw  Him  there  they  were 
astonished  ;  and  His  mother  said  unto  Him,  Son, 
why  hast  thou  thus  dealt  with  us?  behold  thy 
father  and  I  sought  thee  sorrowing.  And  He 
said  unto  them,  How  is  it  that  ye  sought  me  ? 
Knew  ye  not  that  I  must  be  about  my  Father's 
business?  They  understood  not  the  saying 
which  He  spake  unto  them.  Then  we  read.  And 
He  went  down  with  them,  and  came  to  Nazareth  ; 
and  He  was  subject  unto  them  :  and  His  mother 
kept  all  these  sayings  in  her  heart.  Also,  And 
Jesus  advanced  in  wisdom  and  stature,  and  in 
favor  with  God  and  men.  That  is  all  that  is 
said.     It  is  enough. 

It  shows  us  what  a  wonderful  boy  He  was. 
It  separates  Him  from  all  other  bo^^s,  and  it 
unites  Him  to  all  other  boys.  He  was  like 
them  :     He  was  also  unlike  them. 

He  was  like  them  in  that  He  had  a  similar 
home-life.  He  knew  the  sweet  names,  father, 
motiier,  brother,  sister.  He  had  cousins  and 
friends.  He  was  obedient  to  His  parents.  Do 
I  say  he  was  like  other  boys  in  that  ?  He  was 
like  some  boys  and  like  what  all  boys  should  be. 
It  is  a  most  precious  thing  to  have  a  father  and 
mother  to  love.  A  good  father  and  mother  are 
God's  best  gift  to  a  child.  The  Scripture  says 
of  Jesus  that  he   was  subject  unto  his  parents. 


20  THE    MODEL    LIFE. 

Ill  tlial  he  has  left  an  example  to  all  children. 
The  rule  of  Holy  Scripture  is  that  children 
should  obey  their  parents  in  the  Lord.  God  is 
first.  His  commands  are  first  of  all  to  be  obeyed, 
and  when  the  parental  commands  are  in  hai-- 
mony  with  them,  they  are  to  be  obeyed.  But  we 
ought  to  obey  God  rather  than  man.  God  must 
always  be  put  first.  Christ  must  be  about  His 
Father's  business:  then  subject  to  His  human 
parents. 

The  child  grew  and  waxed  strong,  filled  with 
wisdom.  He  advanced  in  wisdom  and  stature. 
That  he  should  grow  and  become  a  strong  and 
healthy  child  in  the  out-door  air  of  His  Galilean 
life  was  to  have  been  expected.  That  we  see  in 
most  children  in  the  same  condition.  But  He 
grew  also  in  wisdom,  and  more  than  that,  in 
favor  with  God  and  man  ;  and  the  grace  of  God 
was  upon  Him. 

What  were  the  books  He  studied  }  He  was 
not  a  High  School  scholar,  nora  university  stu- 
dent, nor  did  He  have  the  training  of  the  Jewish 
doctors.  He  was  taught  by  His  parents  in  their 
home-life  and  by  the  teachers  in  the  synagogue, 
as  we  have  our  Sunday  School  instruction  and 
our  preaching  service.  He  had  a  mind  open  to 
all  the  voices  of  nature,  in  all  her  volumes  of 
truth,  in  all  her  display  of  ceaseless  miracle.  He 
mingled  with  the  people  and  heard  their  talk. 
He  was  familiar  with  the  Scriptures  of  the  Old 
Testament:  those  Scriptures  of  which  He  after- 


CHRIST    IN    CHILDHOOD.  27 

ward  said,  "  In  them  ye  think  ye  have  eternal 
life,  and  they  are  they  which  testify  of  me. 
Sanctify  them  through  thy  truth  :  thy  Word  is 
truth."  In  the  great  truths  of  the  divine  Word 
He  found  food  for  His  mind,  uplift  and  expan- 
sion for  His  soul,  as  any  other  boy  might  do. 
Men  wiio  become  great  by  their  study  of,  and 
familiarity  with,  the  Bible,  are  strong  men.  It 
is  worth  more  than  all  other  books  to  an}'  boy, 
no  matter  what  business  he  is  preparing  for. 
He  had  better  shut  up  all  his  school-books,  all 
books  that  he  is  interested  in  reading,  than  to 
shut  up  the  Bible.  If  he  can  have  but  one  book, 
that  is  the  Book  for  him,  for  that  one  Book  of 
God  is  able  to  make  him  wise  unto  salvation. 
Wisdom,  wisdom  of  schools  and  of  books,  is  vain 
wisdom  if  it  does  not  make  the  learner  wise 
unto  salvation.  Any  course  of  study  or  training 
that  stops  short  of  salvation,  stops  short  of  the 
main  thing,  the  only  thing  of  chief  concern. 
It  is  pitiful,  inexpressibly  pitiful,  to  see  a  boy 
go  out  from  his  schools  and  his  home  into 
the  world  of  men  and  of  business  without  salva- 
tion. He  is  like  a  ship  going  out  from  port 
without  compass  or  rudder,  to  be  driven  by  wild 
winds,  on  stormy  seas,  to  meet  the  iceberg  and 
the  hurricane,  and  to  go  down  in  terrible  wreck  ! 
Pity  the  boy,  who,  whatever  he  may  have,  has 
not  the  Christian  faith  to  meet  the  temptations 
and  trials  of  the  world  !  How  many  have  I 
seen,  in  a  life  not  now  short,  who   started  out 


28  TIIK    MODEF.    MKR. 

fair!)-,  like  the  ship  with  its  sails  all  spread  to  the 
breeze  and  its  pennons  streaming  toward  the 
skies,  with  music  rins^ing  from  its  decks  and  the 
shouts  of  its  sailors  flung  to  the  air,  in  a  few 
short  months  brought  home  with  draggled  sails, 
and  shattered  masts,  and  hulk  battered  and  leak- 
ing at  every  joint,  fit  only  for  the  fire,  or  thrown 
on  a  rocky  coast  a  niisciable  wreck !  If  these 
were  my  last  words  to  the  boys  whom  1  love,  I 
would  charge  them  to  love  the  Bible  and  to 
obey  it,  and  especially  t(^  love  Him  who  made 
the  Bible  and  who  made  them.  Dare  not  to 
neglect  Christ,  to  put  off  salvation,  to  run  the 
risk  of  everlasting  ruin. 

The  boy  Jesus  rdso  learneJ  from  communion 
with  His  heavenly  Father.  He  was  a  boy  of 
prayer.  N(3  day  passed  when  He  did  not  have 
intercourse  with  God.  H-^  looked  up  for  health 
and  strength  and  wisdom.  Any  boy  without 
prayer  is  weak.  He  who  takes  hold  of  the  arm 
of  God  takes  hold  of  infinite  strength. 

By  such  means  it  was  that  Jesus  advanced  in 
wisdom  and  stature,  and  also  in  favor  with  God 
and  man.  Favor  with  God  first  :  then  favor 
with  men.  "  Would'st  have  a  friend?  Have 
God  thy  friend  who  passeth  all  the  rest." 

The  Jews  marveled  and  said:  "  How  knoweth 
this  man  letters,  having  never  learned  ?"  Ah  ! 
they  did  n(jt  know  the  secret  of  His  wisdom. 
But  you  may  know  it.     The  Bible  and  Prayer, 


CHKIST   IN    CHILDHOOD.  2d 

these  were  the  keys  that  unlocked  all  the  doors 
that  He  needed  to  enter. 

There  may  be  one  thing  in  which  the  boy 
Jesus  was  unlike  all  other  boys  who  have  ever 
lived.  He  was  loithout  sin.  He  never  did  anyone 
thing  for  which  He  needed  to  repent.  He  never 
spoke  a  word  which  He  should  not  have  spoken. 
He  never  had  a  thought  which  He  should  not 
have  had.  He  never  injured  a  pla3mate,  nor 
wronged  another  child,  nor  disobeyed  any  good 
rule.  He  was  a  perfect  boy  :  perfect  in  thought, 
in  purpose,  in  act,  in  word. 

He  was  a  true,  pure,  holy  boy.  He  had  the 
favor  of  God.  Day  after  day,  through  all  the 
sweet  years  of  his  boyhood  He  lived  without  sin, 
and  no  wrong  thing  was  ever  known  of  Him, 
seen  in  Him  ;  never,  in  fact,  existed  in  Him. 

Sin  is  that  which  makes  so  much  sorrow  and 
sufifering  in  the  world.  It  spoils  human  lives. 
It  makes  wretched  fathers  and  mothers  and  chil- 
dren. It  makes  tears  flow.  It  breaks  human 
hearts.  It  wounds  the  heart  of  God.  Sin  made 
it  necessary  for  the  Saviour  to  die.  He  died  to 
save  sinners. 

Boys  begin  to  sin  when  they  are  very  young. 
They  go  on  in  that  way  too  often.  Too  often 
they  grow  up  to  be  sinners  :  sometimes  very 
bad  ones.  They  break  away  from  their  parents, 
stop  praying  and  reading  the  Bible,  leave  the 
Sunday  School,  never  go  to  church,  reject 
Christ  and   His  salvation,  mingle  with  hard  and 


30  THE   MODEL    LIFE. 

wicked  persons,  and  finally  become  as  hard  and 
wicked  as  any.  And  so  it  is  that  the  prisons  are 
filled  with  young  men,  thousands  and  thousands 
of  them,  who  have  gone  off  into  bad  company 
and  become  low  and  criminal. 

In  the  boy  Jesus  we  have  a  better  example, 
the  brightest  example  in  all  the  history  of  the 
world  !  Copy  His  true,  pure,  life.  He  grew  and 
waxed  strong,  filled  with  wisdom  ;  and  the  grace 
of  God  was  on  Him.  Men  admired  Him  and 
God  loved  Him.  There  was  n(jthing  wrong 
about  Him.  He  did  no  sin,  neither  was  guile 
found  in  His  mouth.  He  loved  and  obeyed  His 
parents.  He  was  always  about  His  heavenly 
Father's  business.  He  kept  the  Sabbath  holy. 
He  worshiped  with  God's  people.  He  studied 
God's  Holy  Bible.  His  life  made  the  world 
bright. 

Be  like  Christ.  Imitate  His  life.  Be  boys 
that  your  parents  will  be  proud  of.  As  you 
move  til  rough  the  world  make  a  path  that  will 
be  brilliant  with  light  as  the  light  of  noons,  that 
will  ring  with  music  as  the  songs  of  heaven,  that 
will  bless  others  all  the  way  as  dews  and  flowers 
make  the  morning  and  the  evening  glad.  And 
let  us  be  so  about  our  Father's  business  that, 
when  our  work  here  shall  be  done,  we  shall  all 
meet  in  our  Father's  House  ! 


III. 


CHRIST   THE    DIVINE   CARPENTER. 

HE  CARPENTER!  It  is  at  first,  almost 
impossible  to  think  of  the  Saviour  of 
the  world,  the  Son  of  God,  as  employed 
in  the  work-shop  of  the  village  carpenter.  But 
there  was  His  place  and  His  occupation. 
Through  His  youth  and  His  early  manhood  He 
was  known  in  the  humble  town  of  Nazareth  as 
the  carpenter.  If,  as  the  tradition  goes.  His 
reputed  father,  Joseph,  died  when  Jesus  was 
nineteen  years  of  age,  it  would  fall  to  Him 
to  keep  on  with  the  business  for  the  support  of 
the  family:  and,  in  that  case,  for  eleven  years, 
He  was  at  work  on  the  simple  dwellings  of 
Nazareth,  adjusting  doors  and  windows  to  their 
stone  walls,  making  plain  furniture  for  them 
and  fashioning  plows  and  yokes  for  out- 
door labor.  From  early  morning  till  evening, 
assisted  perhaps  by  His  brethren,  He  was 
handling  the  saw  and  the  plane,  the  hammer 
and  the  chisel,  and  was  passing  from  house  to 
house  to  fulfill  the  orders  of  the  village  people. 
So  they  all  knew  Him  in  His  business  :  and 
when,  after  His  public  life  began,  after  He  had 

[31] 


32  THE    MODEL    UFE. 

gone  away  from  Nazareth  and  entered  upon 
that  wonderful  ministry  which  aroused  the 
attention  of  the  nation,  after  miracles  of  power 
had  attested  His  divinity,  He  came  into  His 
own  countr}',  and  on  the  Sabbath  stood  forth  in 
the  synagogue  of  His  village  as  a  teacher  of  the 
Scriptures,  the  people,  hearing  Him,  were 
astonished,  and  they  said,  one  to  another, 
Whence  hath  this  man  these  things?  What  is 
the  wisdom  that  is  given  unto  this  man,  and 
what  mean  such  might}'  works  wrought  by  His 
hands?  Is  not  this  the  carpenter?  Was  He 
not  working  here  for  us  a  few  months  ago? 
Are  not  His  brothers  and  His  sisters  here  with 
us,  and  His  mother  Mary  ?  They  could  not 
understand  it.  With  a  wisdom  which  surpassed 
that  of  the  learned  rabbis,  with  a  power  beyond 
that  of  man,  His  words  and  His  woiks  were 
unexplainable  by  them.  He  had  not  been  taught 
in  their  schools  of  learning.  He  had  not  been 
familiar  with  the  leaders  of  the  Pharisees  and 
Sadducees,  with  the  educated  scribes.  He  had 
not  been  a  pupil  of  any  Hillel  or  Gamaliel.  The 
books  of  oriental  and  Greek  philosophy  were 
unknown  in  the  home  of  Joseph  and  Mar3\ 
They  were  well  surprised,  therefore,  at  the 
wisdom  with  which  He  taught,  at  the  grace 
which  flowed  from  His  lips.  They  had  known 
Him  only  as  the  carpenter. 

The    mysterious    life    which    He    had    lived 
among  them  for  thirty   years  was  out  of  their 


CHRIST   THE    DIVINE    CARPENTER.  33 

sight.  His  open  life  as  a  workman,  building 
their  houses  and  tools,  was  familiar  to  them. 
But  His  life  with  God,  His  deep  communion 
with  His  Father,  the  absorption  of  His  lonely 
hours  in  silent  meditation  on  things  divine  and 
heavenly,  were  all  unobserved  b}'  them.  After 
all,  they  were  not  acquainted  with  Him.  He 
had  indeed  learned  something  from  His  father 
and  his  mother  in  their  home  instructions :  He 
had  learned  something  in  the  humble  village 
school  of  the  synagogue.  But  His  real  wisdom 
was  divine.  He  was  taught  of  God.  All  human 
learning  was  but  the  preface  to  his  knowledge. 
The  world  was  an  open  book  to  Him.  The  sun 
and  the  midnight  stars,  in  their  sublime  circuits, 
printed  His  lessons.  The  beautiful  landscapes, 
with  their  pictured  lakes  and  forests,  with 
marching  shadows  and  the  music  of  winds  that 
rustled  the  leaves  and  dimpled  the  waters,  the 
bloom  of  lilies  and  the  songs  of  birds,  mountains 
that  lifted  their  serene  sunuiiits  toward  the  blue 
of  the  skies,  were  the  leaves  on  which  he  studied. 
The  human  heart,  bare  to  His  scrutiny,  with  its 
joys  and  sorrows  and  its  sober  aspirations,  as 
He  saw  it  in  the  homes  where  He  labored, 
among  the  simple  people  with  whom  He  lived, 
torn  by  the  tragedies  of  life,  soothed  by  the 
tenderness  of  sympathetic  love,  was  a  volume 
of  profound  meaning  for  His  constant  thought. 
Memories  of  the  glorious  world  where  His 
eternal    life  had  been    spent,  the    music    of  the 


34  THE   MODEL    LIFE. 

angel-choirs,  the  splendor  and  peace  of  a  holy 
estate,  the  glory  of  the  Throne  and  the  infinite 
perfections  of  Godhead,  filled  His  soul  and 
brought  perpetual  uplift  to  his  lowly  being. 
Nature  and  history,  biography  and  living  men, 
were  His  instructors.  One  who  has  looked  upon 
the  scene  has  vividly  described  the  historic  plain 
which  the  Saviour  saw  from  the  hill  which 
rises  six  hundred  feet  above  the  village  of 
Nazareth.  "  It  was  in  the  heart  of  the  land  of 
Israel.  The  standards  of  Rome  were  planted 
on  the  plain  before  him  :  the  language  of  Greece 
was  si)oken  in  the  towns  below.  And  however 
peaceful  it  then  might  look,  green  as  a  pavement 
of  emerald,  rich  with  its  gleams  of  vivid  sun- 
light, and  the  purpling  sliadows  which  floated 
over  it  from  the  clouds  of  the  latter  rain,  it  had 
been  for  centuries  a  battle-field  of  nations. 
Pharaohs  and  Ptolemies,  Emirs  and  Arsacids, 
judges  and  consuls,  had  all  contended  for  the 
mastery  of  that  smiling  tract.  It  had  glittered 
with  the  lances  of  the  Amelekites  :  it  had  trem- 
bled under  the  chariot-wheels  of  Sesostris  ;  it 
had  echoed  the  twanging  bow-strings  of  Senna- 
cherib ;  it  had  been  trodden  by  the  phalanxes  of 
Macedonia  ;  it  had  clashed  with  the  broadswords 
of  Rome  ;  it  was  destined  hereafter  to  ring  with 
the  battle  cry  of  the  Crusaders,  and  thunder 
with  the  artiller}'  of  England  and  of  France.  In 
that  Plain  of  Jczrccl,  Europe  and  Asia,  Judaism 
and   heathenism,  barbarism  and  civilization,  the 


CHRIST    THE    DIVINE   CARPENTER.  35 

old  and  the  new  covenant,  the  history  of  the 
past  and  the  hopes  of  the  present,  seemed  all  to 
meet.  No  scene  of  deeper  significance  for  the 
destinies  of  humanity  could  possibly  have 
arrested  the  youthful  Saviour's  g-^ze." 

Under  such  instructive  influences,  earth  and 
heaven  being  His  teachers,  the  strange  boyhood 
and  youth  and  young  manhood  of  the  Messiah 
had  passed  away  :  and  when  He  came  before  the 
people  who  had  known  Him  well  through  those 
preparatory  periods,  opening  tlieir  sacred  record 
with  a  wisdom  which  sui-passed  that  of  their 
learned  scribes  and  rabbis,  they  asked  with  won- 
der  and  skepticism.  Is    not  this  the  Carpenter? 

A  poet  of  our  day  has  indulged  in  the  conceit 
that  somewhere  in  Nazareth  or  in  some  part  of 
Palestine  there  may  3'et  be  found  some  surviving 
memento  of  the  workmanship  of  Christ  : 

"  Some  dear  relique 
Of  work  by  Joseph's  Son. 
Some  carved  thoug-ht,  some  tool  of  toil, 

Some  house  with  stones  grown  gray, 
A  home  He  built  who  had  not  where 

His  weary  head  to  lay. 
It  were  a  thing  most  beautiful. 

Of  rare  and   rich  design  : 
And  something  very  true  and  strong. 

Made  by  a  skill  divine. 
The  road-side  stones  at  sight  of  Him 

Could  scarce  their  rapture  hush  : 
What  felt  His  touch  and  art  must  yet 

With  conscious  beauty  blush." 


36  THE    MODEL    LIFE. 

But  as  there  are  no  pictures  preserved  of  Him, 
so  there  are  no  memorials  of  His  known  handi- 
work. Such  memorial,  if  preserved,  would  be 
idolized.  It  would  be  considered  a  sacred  thing 
and  supeistitious  men  would  even  worship   it. 

A  recent  number  of  "  The  Century  "  contains 
an  interior  of  a  carpenter's  shop  in  Nazareth, 
with  the  tools  that  were  in  use  and  articles  that 
were  made,  and  the  writer  says  :  "  Whatever 
the  Palestine  carpenter  produces  is  from  the 
fragrant  cedars  of  Lebanon  or  from  the  eccen- 
trically knotted  and  gnarled  olive-wood."  Mem- 
orials of  His  handiwork  in  fragrant  cedar  or 
beautifully  grained  olivewood  would  be  indeed 
precious  treasures  to  those  who  cherish  His 
memory  and  love  Him  and  all  His  works.  But 
though  no  such  relics  have  been  handed  down, 
there  may  be,  yet,  in  the  old  interiors  of  the 
houses  of  Nazareth  woodwork  which  the  hand 
of  this  Carpenter  wrought,  doors  and  shelves  and 
window-sills  which  he  framed  and  set  in  place, 
which  it  were  good  to  see.  In  an  old  and  well- 
preserved  house  in  Oxford,  wainscoted  and 
ceiled  with  English  oak,  as  we  were  examining 
its  elabt)rate  panels  and  the  tasteful  wcjrkmanshij) 
of  its  woods,  one  of  its  refined  dwellers  said  to 
me  of  a  room  into  which  we  had  entered,  "  This  is 
a  thousand  years  old  !"  The  hard}'  cedar  and 
the  undecaying  olive-wood  of  Lcl)anon  would 
remain  well-preserved  for  two  thousand  years  in 
its  original  beaut}'  and  form.    So  that  the  travel- 


CHRlSt   THE    DIVtNE    CARrENTER.  37 

er,  exploring  the  white  dwellings  of  Nazareth  to- 
day may,  unconsciously,  come  upon  the  very 
handiwork  of  this  most  illustrious  Carpenter! 

But  if  he  should  not,  and  could  not,  assure  him- 
self of  this,  he  would  yet  be  among  known  works 
of  Christ.  The  heavens  that  bend  above  that 
historic  town  declare  His  glory,  and  the  firma- 
ment showeth  His  handiwork.  Day  unto  day 
uttereth  speech,  and  night  unto  night  showeth 
knowledge  of  His  creations.  Eacli  star  that 
beams  from  its  remote  place,  in  the  unmeasured 
distances  of  space,  is  from  His  forming  hand. 
Tabor  with  it,  groves  of  oak,  and  Carmel  in  its 
rugged  features,  and  Hebron  with  its  crown  of 
snow,  were  made  by  Him.  The  Sea  of  Galilee, 
the  wide  plain  of  Esdraelon,  the  fruitful  hills  of 
Samaria,  are  all  the  products  of  His  thought. 
The  endless  variety  of  flowers  that  garnish  the 
rocks  and  the  wayside  with  their  luxurious 
beauty,  are  His  own  ideas  in  those  graceful  and 
fragrant  forms.  And  every  man,  and  every 
child,  in  that  old  town  where  He  wrought  with 
saw  and  chisel  at  the  carpenter's  bench,  is  the 
statuesque  production  of  this  divine  Artist.  Not 
in  Nazareth  canyon  go  amiss  of  works  of  Christ. 
The  very  ground  on  which  it  is  builded  He 
made.  The  birds  that  flash  over  it  on  their 
wings  of  blue,  and  the  camels  that  shamble 
through  it  in  their  patient  pace,  and  every  soul 
that  gives  a  strange  character  to  that  early  home 
of  the  Lord,  own  him  as  their  Author.     And  the 


38  THE   MODEL    LIFE. 

signals  of  Him  are  not  alone  at  hoary  Nazareth. 
They  are  all  over  the  world  which  is  sanctified 
by  His  tread  and  toil,  by  His  blessed  works 
and  words,  by  his  vicarious  sufferings  and  death. 
Would  we  find  relics  and  memorials  of  Him? 
Would  we  see  remembrances  of  our  Lord?  We 
need  not  cross  the  sea.  We  need  not  climb  the 
rocky  path  from  Gil  boa  to  Nazareth.  We  have 
only  to  look  around  us.  We  have  only,  if  we 
are  His,  to  look  within  us.  Around  us  and  above 
us  are  His  creations.  Within  us  is  His  new 
creation,  most  wonderful  of  all  !  He  who  made 
the  heavens  and  the  earth,  made  and  re-made, 
renewed  our  souls,  and  wrought  them  into  His 
moral  image.  The  poet  to  whom  I  have  alluded 
has  wrought  the  fact  into  harmonious  verse: 

"  O  soul  of  mine  !  I  tell  thee  true, 

If  Christ  indeed  be  thine, 
No  more  made  He  Himself  thy  kin 

Than  makes  He  thee  divine. 
As  thro'  His  soul  there  frequent  beat 

Our  human  hopes  and  loves, 
So  midst  thy  varying  joys  and  fears 

His  spirit  lives  and  moves. 

*'  But  O  my  soul,  as  I  thy  good 

Anil  evil  ways  explore, 
I  seem  to  see  the  Christ  in  thee 

His  earthly  life  live  o'er. 
Thou  art  another  Holy  Land, 

(Ah!  holy  might'st  thou  be  !) 
The  olden  joys  and  griefs  of  Christ 

Repeat  themselves  in  thee." 


CHRIST   THE   DIVINE    CARPENTER.  39 

Study  yourself,  if  you  are  renewed  in  Christ, 
and  you  shall  find  that  which  memorializes  Him. 
If  3'ou  are  like  Him,  it  is  His  hand  that  has 
fashioned  you  after  that  divine  likeness.  If  in 
you  are  the  graces  of  the  spirit,  it  is  by  Him  that 
they  are  wrought.  If  you  are  redeemed  unto 
God,  it  is  through  the  redemption  that  He  made 
at  infinite  cost.  If  you  are  healed  from  the 
wounds  of  sin,  it  is  by  His  stripes  that  you  are 
healed.  If  your  transgressions  are  blotted  out, 
it  is  His  blood  that  has  blotted  them  out.  The 
new  creation  of  the  human  soul  is  the  new  crea- 
tion of  Christ.  It  is  no  more  true  that  He  made 
the  world  and  its  varied  organisms,  than  that 
He  re-makes  the  soul  and  develops  its  divine 
life.  It  is  no  more  true  that,  as  the  carpenter  of 
Nazareth,  His  hand  fashioned  the  woodwork  in 
the  houses  of  that  village  and  the  tools  of  its 
people,  than  that  He  fashions  our  souls  into  His 
image  and  will  fashion  anew  the  body  oi  our 
humiliation  that  it  may  be  conformed  to  the 
body  of  His  glory.  There  is  vast  and  tender 
meaning  to  tliat  word  of  the  apostle,  "  For  we 
are  His  workmanship,  created  in  Christ  Jesus  for 
good  works."  You,  so  far  as  you  are  a  Christian, 
are  the  workmanship  of  Christ  :  and  you  have 
not  to  go  beyond  yourself  to  find  memorial  of 
Him  of  whom  the  Nazarenes  said,  Is  not  this 
the  carpenter  ? 

The  signs  of  Christ,  then,  are  not  far  to  see. 
"  The  invisible  thiuijs  of  Him  since  the  creation 


40  rm-:  modkl  life. 

of  the  world  arc  clearly  seen,  being'  perceived 
through  the  things  that  are  made."  The  things 
that  are  made  are  ever  in  our  sight.  II  we  look 
upward,  there  is  glorious  revelation  of  Christ. 
Everv  star  that  flashes  in  the  brilliant  constella- 
tions, and  helps  to  form  the  Milky  Way,  is  a 
globe  formed  b}'  Him.  The  sea  is  His  and  He 
made  it ;  and  His  hands  formed  the  dry  land. 
His  woik  at  Nazareth  was  an  insignificant  part 
of  what  He  has  wrought.  Is  not  this  the  car- 
penter? Is  n(jt  this  the  maker  of  all  worlds,  of 
the  landscai)es  that  spread  around  us,  with  their 
hills  and  water  and  the  glories  of  vegetation? 
All  things  were  made  by  Him.  Without  Him 
was  not  anything  made  that  was  made.  But  a 
diviner  creation  is  that  creation  which  is  bring- 
ing on  the  moral  renewal  of  the  world.  He  is 
even  now  creating  new  heavens  and  a  new  earth 
for  the  dwelling-place  of  righteousness.  The 
foundations  are  laid  by  His  own  hand.  The 
structure  is  rising  on  every  land  to  which  the 
gospel  has  been  carried.  And  the  former  things 
He  assures  us  shall  not  be  remembered,  nor 
come  into  mind.  The  pick  has  dug  into  the 
earth's  mines  of  treasure.  The  tubes  have  been 
pointed  into  the  peopled  spaces  of  the  heavens. 
The  glass  has  magnified  the  minute  forms  of  life. 
Science  has  searched  into  all  seas  and  along  all 
shores,  and  the  graves  of  the  centuries  have 
been  made  to  give  up  their  dead.  Trophies  of 
research  have  been  published  in   books  and   in 


CHRIST    THE    DIVINE    CAKPENTISR.  41- 

charts,  and  have  crowded  great  galleries  and 
museums.  The  spoils  from  the  material  crea- 
tions have  rewarded  the  study  and  investigation 
of  men. 

But  there  is  another  study,  and  another  world 
of  thought.  Christ,  the  former  and  the  informer 
of  our  souls,  is  working  out  the  plan  of  salvation 
as  it  exists  in  the  designs  of  God.  You  see  the 
ongoing  of  it.  You  see  the  child,  with  the 
warm  affectionateness  of  his  nature,  won  to  the 
love  of  the  Saviour.  You  see  the  father,  who 
has  lived  without  hope  and  with  no  God,  conse- 
crating his  manly  powers  to  Christ.  You  see 
a  whole  family  renouncing  the  vanities  of  the 
world,  giving  themselves  together  to  the  service 
of  this  blessed  Master.  You  see  parishes  and 
communities  wrought  on  by  a  power  viewless 
as  the  wind  and  forceful  as  the  tornado,  revolu- 
tionized in  their  common  life  and  turned  toward 
heavenly  things.  You  see,  if  your  minds  are 
open  to  current  histor}^  the  progress  of  a  new 
creation  which  is  changing  the  world's  history, 
which  is  sweeping  away  night  and  old  chaos 
from  the  nations,  which  is  gilding  the  horizon 
with  the  glory  of  a  new  and  better  day,  whose 
light  is  to  lighten  all  the  peoples  and  to  make 
Christ  the  Light  of  the  world. 

You  would  find  some  relics  of  the  workman- 
ship of  the  Galilean  carpenter  !  You  need  not 
seek  for  them  in  the  fragrant  cedar  and  the 
beautiful   olive-wood  on   which   He   worked    in 


42  THE   MODEL   LIFE. 

Nazareth  !  Here  and  now,  around  you,  in  the 
world  abroad,  wherever  His  gospel  goes,  you 
may  plainly  see  what  He  has  wrought.  Men 
are  His  memorials!  Renewed  souls  are  memen- 
tos of  His  work.  The  restored  world  is  monu- 
mental of  Him.  By  and  by,  lighted  with  His 
love,  made  glorious  by  His  redeeming  ministry 
upon  it,  it  will  swing  through  the  heavens, 
among  other  spheres  of  light,  the  chief  among 
ten  thousand,  the  one  altogether  lovely,  for  His 
accomplished  work  uj^on  it! 

This  is  the  carpentering  of  the  Master  Build- 
er !  This  is  the  city  whose  builder  and  maker 
is  God.  Jesus  Chiist  is  He  "  in  whom  each 
several  building,  fitly  framed  together,  groweth 
into  a  holy  temple  in  the  Lord  ;  in  whom  ye 
also  are  builded  together  for  a  habitation  of  God 
in  the  Spirit." 


HEALING  THE  SICK  IN  THE  TEMPLE. 

TypoRravure — Benj.  West, 


IV. 


THE   POWER   AND   FAME   OF   CHRIST. 

STRANGE  Life  had  come  into  the 
world  !  strange  in  its  beginnings,  in  its 
continnance,  in  its  ending  !  The  pre- 
annoLincement  of  it  was  such  as  has  no  parallel 
in  histor3^  The  Birth  of  this  Pers(jn  in  a  humble 
place  drew  from  heaven  a  multitude  of  angels 
who  filled  the  mountain-air  above  Bethlehem 
with  their  exultant  praises.  It  brought  wise 
men  from  a  far  country,  guided  by  a  phenom- 
enal star,  with  regal  presents  of  gold  and  frank- 
incense and  myrrh,  to  worship  Him.  In  the 
house  of  the  village  carpenter  at  Nazareth  there 
was  a  wonderful  boyhood.  When  He  was 
twelve  years  old  His  parents  found  Him  in  the 
temple,  sitting  in  the  midst  of  the  doctors,  both 
hearing  them  and  asking  them  questions.  His 
parents  did  not  understand  what  He  spake  unto 
them.  Even  in  His  earliest  infanc}'  they 
marveled  at  the  things  which  were  spoken  con- 
cerning Him.  He  lived  with  them :  He  was 
obedient  unto  them  :  but,  with  all  His  winning 
traits  there  was  mystery  about  the  Boy  which 
they  could  not  fathom.     He  was  unlike  all  other 

[43] 


44  THK    MODKL    LIFR. 

boys.  Who  was  He?  From  what  world  had 
He  come  to  this?  On  what  mission  had  this 
mystic  life  been  launched  into  the  living  foices 
of  the  world  ? 

Then  came  a  period  of  eighteen  years  of 
obscurity  and  silence,  in  which  this  remarkable 
youth  followed  the  trade  of  a  carpenter  in  the 
village  where  His  father  had  pursued  that  occu- 
pation until  his  death.  No  history  tells  us  of 
these  years.  We  can  only  wonder  what  they 
were  in  the  discipline  and  growth  of  Him  of 
whom  we  read,  that  He  advanced  in  wisdom  and 
stature  and  in  favor  with  God  and  men. 

When  He  was  thirty  years  of  age  His  public 
ministry  began.  It  burst  on  the  people  as  some- 
thing extraordinary.  At  his  baptism,  the  Holy 
Spirit,  in  bodily  form  as  a  dove,  descended  from 
the  open  heavens  upon  Him,  and  a  voice  came 
from  the  firmament:  "Thou  art  my  beloved 
Son  ;  in  thee  I  am  well  pleased."  John  the  Bap- 
tist testified  that  he  saw  the  strange  occurrence  : 
"  I  saw  and  bare  record,  that  this  is  the  Son  of 
God."  The  spirit  of  power  abode  upon  Him 
and  abode  with  Him:  so  that  immediately  He 
became  the  prominent  figure  before  the  people. 
A  wide  fame  went  out  concerning  Him  through 
all  the  regions  round  about:  and  He  taught  in 
their  synagogues,  being  glorified  of  all.  Luke 
mentions  this  before  he  makes  mention  of  any 
miracle  as  wrought  by  Christ.  It  was  the  power 
of  His  preaching  ;  it  was  the  wonderful  doctrine 


THE   POWER    AND     FAME    OF   CHRIST.  45 

that  he  taught ;  it  was  the  new  meanings  which 
He  brought  out  of  the  old  Scriptures  ;  which 
made  His  name  and  fame  so  pervasive  and 
prominent.  It  was  so  in  Galilee:  it  was  so  in 
Samaria.  He  spoke,  as  the  Roman  soldiers  after- 
ward testified,  as  no  man  ever  spake.  His  very 
first  journey  was  a  triumph.  Grace  was  poured 
into  His  lips.  But  his  words  were  confirmed  by 
that  wonderful  series  of  miracles  which  proved 
His  innate  and  irresistible  divinity.  Without 
them  He  was  great  :  with  them  His  power  was 
incontestable.  Matthew,  almost  at  the  beginning 
of  the  history,  says,  Jesus  went  about  in  all  Gal- 
ilee, teaching  in  their  synagogues  and  preaching 
the  gospel  of  the  kingdom,  and  healing  all  man- 
ner of  disease  and  all  manner  of  sickness  among 
the  people.  And  the  report  of  Him  went  forth 
into  all  Syria,  and  they  brought  unto  Him  all 
that  were  sick,  holden  with  divers  diseases  and 
torments,  possessed  with  demons,  and  epileptic 
and  palsied,  and  he  healed  them.  Then  comes  a 
statement  by  Matthew,  which  introduces  a  fact 
of  marvel  in  this  unique  life  and  which  is  with- 
out parallel  :  "  And  there  followed  Him  great 
multitudes  from  Galilee  and  Decapolis  and 
Jerusalem  and  Judea  and  from  beyond  Jordan." 
The  people  were  drawn  to  Him  by  a  magic 
attraction.  They  could  not  be  kept  away  from 
Him.  Over  and  over  again,  in  all  the  gospels,  is 
it  repeated  that  multitudes,  great  multitudes, 
clung  to  Him,  followed  Him  wherever  He  went, 


46  THK   MODEL   LIFE. 

from  the  beginning  of  liis  ministr}',  till  in  snd 
and  glooniy  ranks  they  closed  aiound  llini  on 
Calvary  and  wept  at  the  tragic  event  of  the 
cross  ! 

Matthew  writes:  "  And  seeing  the  multitudes, 
He  went  up  into  the  mountain."  And  then  he 
gave  the  Sermon  on  the  Mount,  as  it  is  called. 
See  now  how  often  the  fact  is  taken  notice  of. 
The  multitudes  were  astonished  at  His  teaching. 
When  He  was  come  down  fiom  the  mountain 
great  multitudes  followed  Him.  When  the 
multitudes  saw  it,  they  were  afraid,  and  glori- 
fied God,  who  had  given  such  authority  unto 
men.  When  He  saw  the  multitudes.  He  was 
moved  with  compassion  for  them,  because  they 
were  distressed  and  scattered,  as  sheep  not  hav- 
ing a  shej)herd.  Jesus  began  to  sa}'  unto  the 
multitudes  concerning  Jolui.  While  He  was 
3et  speaking  to  the  multitudes,  behold.  His 
mother  and  brethren  stood  without,  seeking  to 
speak  to  Him.  On  that  day  went  Jesus  out  of  the 
house,  and  sat  by  the  sea-side.  And  there  were 
gathered  unto  Him  great  multitudes,  so  that  He 
entered  into  a  boat,  and  sat ;  and  all  the  multi- 
tude stood  on  the  beach.  Then  He  spake  many 
things  to  them  in  ]:)arables.  Then  he  left  the 
multitudes  and  went  int(3  the  house.  In  vari- 
ous great  divisions  of  the  country  the  same  thing 
occurred.  When  Jesus  had  finished  these  words, 
He  departed  from  Galilee,  and  came  into  the 
borders   of  Judea    beyond    Jordan  :   and    great 


THE    POWER   AND     FAME    OF    CHRIST.  47 

multitudes  followed  Him.  And  as  they  went 
out  from  Jericho,  a  great  multitude  followed 
Him.  At  Sychar,  in  Samaria,  the  mass  of  the 
people  turned  out  to  see  and  hear  him. 

Once,  as  He  approached  Jerusalem,  there  was 
a  remarkable  demonstration.  Dore  has  made  it 
the  subject  of  one  of  his  greatest  and  most  im- 
pressive paintings.  From  the  mount  of  Olives, 
from  which  afterward  He  ascended  to  heaven, 
He  was  escorted  by  a  great  multitude,  Avho 
spread  their  garments  in  the  way  before  Him 
and  cut  branches  from  the  evergreen  olive-trees 
and  spread  them  in  the  wav.  From  the  country 
where  He  had  been  emplo3'ed  a  great  multitude 
accompanied  Him.  From  the  city  which  He 
was  about  to  enter  another  great  multitude 
came  forth  to  escort  Him.  And  the  multitudes 
that  went  before  Him,  and  that  followed,  cried, 
saying,  "  Hosanna  to  the  Son  of  David  :  Blessed 
is  He  that  cometh  in  the  name  of  the  Lord  : 
Hosanna  in  the  highest."  They  gave  Him 
royal  salute.  They  escorted  Him  as  in  tri- 
umphal procession.  They  gave  Him  entrance  to 
the  capital  as  great  kings  are  given  entrance. 
And  when  he  was  come  into  Jerusalem  all  the 
city  was  stirred,  saying  :  "  Who  is  this  ?"  And 
the  multitudes  answered  :  "  This  is  the  prophet 
Jesus,  from  Nazareth  of  Galilee."  Then  they 
would  have  crowned  Him,  and  placed  Him  on 
the  historic  throne  of  David,  as  from  time  to 
time  the    multitudes  attempted    to    do.      By    a 


48  THE    MODEL    LIFE. 

whirlwind  of  popular  excitement  they  would 
have  swept  down  opposition  and  brought  on  con- 
flict with  the  power  of  the  Roman  Empire.  The 
narrative  goes  on  to  say  :  When  the  multitudes 
heard  it,  they  were  astonished  at  His  teaching. 
Then  spake  Jesus  to  the  multitudes  and  to  His 
disciples.  And  repeatedly  it  is  stated  that  His 
angry  enemies  dare  not  touch  him  for  fear  of  the 
people,  lest  a  tumult  arise  among  the  people. 

The  Gospel  of  Mark  is  just  as  full  of  similar 
statements.  He  says,  many  were  gathered  to- 
gether, so  that  there  was  no  longer  room  for 
them,  no,  not  even  about  the  door.  He  went 
forth  by  the  sea-side,  and  all  the  multitude  re- 
sorted unto  Him,  and  He  taught  them.  Jesus, 
with  His  disciples,  withdrew  to  the  sea:  and  a 
great  multitude  from  Galilee  followed :  and 
from  Judca,  and  from  Idumea,  and  beyond  Jor- 
dan, and  about  Tyre  and  Sidon,agreat  multitude, 
hearing  what  great  things  He  did,  came  unto 
Him.  And  he  spake  unto  His  disciples,  that  a 
little  boat  should  wait  on  Him  because  of  the 
crowd,  lest  they  should  throng  Him.  When 
Jesus  had  crossed  over  again  in  the  boat  unto 
the  other  side,  a  great  multitude  was  gathered 
unto  Him  :  and  He  was  by  the  sea. 

Mark  is  characteristically  graphic  in  his  des- 
criptions of  this  point.  Jesus  and  his  disciples 
went  apart  into  a  desert  place.  And  the  people 
saw  them  going,  and  many  knew  them,  and  they 
ran  there  together  on  foot  from  all  the  cities,  and 


THE   POWER    AND     FAME    OF    CHRIST.  49 

out-went  them.  Again,  the  people  knew  Him, 
and  ran  about  that  whole  region  to  gather  the 
sick.  And  wheresoever  he  entered,  into  villages 
or  into  cities,  or  into  the  country,  they  laid  the 
sick  in  the  market-places,  and  besought  Him  that 
they  might  touch  if  it  were  but  the  border  of 
His  garment :  and  as  many  as  touched  Him  were 
made  whole. 

Luke  is  just  as  full  in  referring  to  this  striking 
fact  :  and  it  is  very  often  noticed  in  the  different 
history  of  John.  I  do  not  need  to  quote  any 
further  :  but  if  you  will  notice  the  statements  in 
your  reading  you  will  see  how  all  the  gospels 
dwell  on  it.  Nor  are  we  left  in  doubt  as  to  the 
size  of  these  multitudes.  Luke  says,  "  When  the 
many  thousands  of  the  multitude  were  gathered 
together."  Mark  tells  us  that  they  that  ate  the 
loaves  were  five  thousand  m^n.  Mark  says, 
they  that  did  eat  were  four  thousand  men,  beside 
women  and  children.  They  were  multitudes, 
great  multitudes,  many  thousands,  five  thousand 
at  one  time,  four  thousand  beside  women  and 
children  at  another  time.  These  immense  con- 
gregations of  people,  from  different  nations  and 
regions  of  country,  poured  along  wherever  He 
went.  Nothing  like  it  was  ever  elsewhere 
known  in  history.  They  amounted  to  armies. 
It  was  a  wide  fame.  He  could  not  appear  any- 
where without  this  overwhelming  mustering  of 
forces.  Those  who  heard  him  speak,  told  of  it. 
Those  who  were  healed  spread  His  fame.     John 


50  THE    MODKi.    I.TFK. 

tlic  Baptist  heard  of  it  bcliiiul  prison  bars. 
Herod  heard  ol  it  in  his  luxurious  paUices. 
Greeks  heard  of  it,  and  when  they  came  to 
Jerusalem  they  wanted  t(3  see  Jesus.  Joseph,  of 
Arimathea,  heard  of  it,  and  sought  to  do  Ilim 
honor.  All  the  synagogues  were  open  to  Hi:n. 
The  cities  were  stirred  by  His  entrance.  Far  in 
the  country,  be^'ond  the  Hebrew  border.  He 
could  not  be  hid.  The  Scribes,  Pharisees,  and 
Sadducees  were  combined  for  His  ruin.  The 
throne  trembled  at  His  name:  for  His  armies 
wished  to  make  Him  King.  He  was  the  idol  of 
the  people.  He  carried  the  popular  enthusiasm. 
Nothing  could  have  stood  before  Him.  No 
human  power  could  cope  with  One  who  could 
feed  His  armies  by  miracle  and  so  needed  no 
commissariat:  who  could  heal  His  w'ounded  and 
restore  His  dead,  and  so  needed  no  medical  staff 
and  no  recruiting  of  forces.  It  was  a  most  won- 
derful phenomenon. 

To  what  are  we  to  ascribe  it  ?  How  can  it 
be  accounted  for  ?  It  is  to  be  explained,  first  of 
all,  by  His  remarkable pcrsotiality.  Christ  had  in 
Him  the  hidings  of  divinity.  Ordinarily,  as 
when  He  was  a  carpenter  in  Nazareth,  and  was 
engaged  in  common  duties,  men  w'ould  have 
noticed  only  that  He  was  no  ordinary  man. 
But  on  extraordinary  occasions,  the  divinity 
flashed  in  His  dark  eye,  spoke  in  His  voice  of 
authority,  was  seen  in  the  wave  of  his  hand,  and 


THfi    roWER    AI^D     FAME    Ot    CHRtSt.  61 

was  revealed  in  the  pose  and  majesty  of  His 
person. 

He  was  every  inch  a  King  !  Royalty  sat  on 
His  brow  like  a  crown.  The  lifting  of  His 
finger  was  like  the  lifting  of  a  scepter.  His 
word  was  sovereignty.  The  seat  on  which  He 
sat,  though  it  were  in  a  boat  on  Galilee,  was  a 
throne. 

When,  in  his  own  town  of  Nazareth,  roused  to 
wrath  by  His  words,  the  people  cast  Him  forth 
out  of  the  city  and  led  Him  unto  the  brow  of 
the  hill  whereon  their  city  was  built,  that  they 
might  throw  him  down  headlong.  He  calmly 
passed  through  the  midst  of  them  unharmed. 
When  ofificersand  soldiers  came  into  Gethsemane 
to  apprehend  Him,  He  went  to  meet  them  and 
asked  them,  Whom  seek  ye  ?  And  when  they 
answered,  Jesus  ot  Nazareth,  he  said,  I  am  He. 
On  that,  they  went  backward  and  fell  to  the 
ground.  No  crowd  of  men,  no  soldiers  trained 
to  arms,  could  stand  before  his  daunting  look. 
God  zvas  in  it.  The  omnipotence  of  Jehovah  lay 
dormant,  but  regnant,  in  His  person.  Himself 
was  the  absolute  miracle.  Men  of  power  have 
something  of  this.  When  a  slave  came  into  the 
prison  to  kill  Marius,  then  seventy  years  of  age, 
that  mighty  Roman  only  said,  "Slave,  wilt  thou 
slay  Marius?"  and  the  cowering  creature  fled 
away.  When  the  boatmen  who  were  rowing 
Caesar  across  a  lake  were  frightened  b}^  a  sudden 
storm,  he  restored  them  by  saying,  "  You  need  not 


52  TrtE    MODEL    LtFl5. 

fear  :  you  are  carrying  C^csnr."  Napoleon  had 
that  power  over  his  soldiers,  so  that  when,  in  his 
majestic  manner,  lie  handed  them  their  eagles 
and  l)id  them  swear,  their  oaths  were  the  vows 
of  enthusiasm.  But  no  man  possessed  the  per- 
sonal, mysterious,  reserved  majesty  that  Christ 
possessed.  It  gave  Him  fame  as  the  one  man 
among  men  of  acknowledged  supremacy. 

It  is  to  be  partly  explained  also  by  the  tvords 
wJiich  He  spake.  His  tone  was  that  of  a  prophet. 
He  had  the  language  of  a  seer.  More  than 
that :  He  spake  like  the  Son  of  God !  He 
taught  as  one  who  had  authority,  and  not  as  the 
scribes.  The  scribes  taught  as  those  who  were 
learned  in  the  Scriptures.  But  Christ  taught  as 
one  whose  own  words  were  on  an  equality  with 
Holy  Scripture.  Scripture  was  only  His  own 
word,  spoken  through  holy  men. 

His  words  were  for  the  deepest  needs  of  men. 
He  spoke  to  the  human  heart,  to  its  wants,  and 
sorrows,  to  its  conviction  of  sin  and  its  desires 
for  escape.  He  represented  God  in  the  two 
great  aspects  of  His  character,  as  offended  with 
sin,  and  as  willing  to  be  reconciled  with  the 
sinner.  Men  knew  then,  as  tliey  know  now, 
what  sin  is.  Christ  made  them  realize  its 
enormity.  Those  denunciatory  words  with 
which  He  rebuked  tiie  hypocrites  of  His  da)% 
had  in  them  the  terror  of  the  judgment.  They 
rolled  on  the  sinful  world  like  the  voices  of  the 
seven  trumpets  of  doom.     Poor,  depraved,  full 


THE    POWER     AND    FAME    OF    CHRIST.  53 

of  sorrow  and  woe,  lost  men  needed  the  words 
of  hope.  And  Christ  drew  them  with  His 
tenderness.  He  told  them  of  the  divine  love. 
He  told  them  of  a  Father  who  would  come  forth 
to  meet  them  on  their  penitent  return  to  Him  ; 
who  would  run  and  fall  on  the  prodigal's  neck 
and  kiss  him  ;  who  would  welcome  him  to  the 
old  home  and  put  the  best  robe  on  him,  and  put 
a  costly  ring  on  his  hand,  and  make  a  glad 
festival  of  the  day  of  his  home-coming.  Sinful 
men  wanted  such  words  as  these.  They  struck 
on  their  hearts  like  the  tones  of  inspiring  music. 
They  lifted  them  out  of  their  forlornness.  They 
kindled  aspirations  of  better  things  in  their 
souls.  No  wonder  that  great  multitudes,  many 
thousands,  hung  on  His  lips,  thronged  Him 
wherever  He  went,  looked  upon  Him  as  a  divine 
friend  !  No  wonder  that  frotr.  all  villages  and 
all  cities,  not  in  Judea  alone,  but  in  Galilee  and 
Samaria  and  in  heathen  territory,  they  gathered 
at  the  magic  of  His  name  and  the  graciousness 
of  His  words  and  the  healing  of  His  touch  ! 

It  is  to  be  explained  also  by  His  miracles  of 
poivcr.  Disease  of  all  types  recognized  His  mas- 
tership. He  was  the  Healer  of  the  body,  as  of 
the  soul.  He  spent  a  day  in  Capernaum,  and  at 
nightfall  there  was  not  a  sick  person  within  the 
limits  of  that  city.  He  visited  town  after  town, 
and  the  market-places,  instead  of  being  filled 
with  commodities  for  trade,  were  filled  with  the 
couches  of  the  sick,  and    He    healed  them  all. 


54  TiiK  Monia,  life. 

Death  recognized  Him  ns  the  Giver  of  life.  The 
beloved  daughter  of  one  household  He  called 
back  to  life  with  one  word,  Arise,  as  He 
took  her  by  the  lifeless  hand.  He  arrested  a 
funeral  procession  on  its  way  to  the  grave  and 
gave  back  to  a  widowed  mother  her  only  son. 
He  called  Lazarus  from  the  tomb  where  he  had 
alread}'  lain  four  days.  Such  acts,  which  were 
those  oi  God  alone,  thrilled  the  popular  mind 
and  stirred  the  nation  with  the  sentiment  that 
God  was  with  them. 

Moret^ver,  the  ovcrtJiroiv  of  diabolism  contrib- 
uted to  this  effect.  The  irruption  from  hell 
ot  evil  spirits,  who  desired  to  counteract  the 
Saviour's  presence  in  the  world,  was  the  occa- 
sion of  a  diabolic  malady  which,  though  some- 
what seen  at  all  times,  was  peculiarly  formidable 
at  that  time.  But  with  abject  fear  and  utter 
impotence  the  demons  trembled  at  His  pres- 
ence and  obeyed  His  word.  The  people  said, 
"What  thing  is  this?  for  with  authority  com- 
mandcth  He  even  the  unclean  spirits,  and  they 
do  obey  Him."  He  was  Sovereign  of  three 
worlds!  Heaven  was  His  own  and  His  home. 
Hell,  from  beneath,  bowed  at  His  mandate. 
Earth  thronged  to  do  Him  homage. 


V. 


HOMES   AND    FRIENDS   OF   CHRIST. 

HERE  were  a  few  homes  which  our  Lord 
tenderly  loved  :  in  which  He  was  sure  of 
a  warm  welcome:  wherein  dwelt  the 
friends  who  were  always  true  to  Him  and  whom 
He  could  unfalteringly  trust.  One  was  "  Peter's 
h(juse,"  in  the  beautiful  and  busy  city  of  Caper- 
naum, on  the  fertile  and  fragrant  shores  of  the 
Sea  of  Galilee,  the  gem  of  the  seven  seas  of 
Canaan,  in  whose  limpid  waters  were  reflected 
the  marble  dwellings  of  the  city,  the  blossoming 
oleanders  that  fringed  its  waves,  and  the  palms 
that  towered  loftily  around.  There,  in  the  family 
of  that  brave  and  devoted  disciple,  He  found 
rest,  after  the  fatigue  of  His  exhausting  labors  of 
instruction  and  healing  and  journeying,  and 
solace,  after  the  vexations  and  reproaches  which 
He  endured  from  men  of  shallow  and  hostile 
character.  The  low  murmurs  of  the  Galilean 
waters  as  the  surf  broke  upon  the  beach,  the 
music  of  the  winds  as  they  sougiied  through  the 
stately  palms  and  the  evergreen  olives,  calmed 
His  soul,  and  among  these  beloved  friends  He 
slept   in  peace.      There    many    of    His    mighty 

[551 


50  THE    MODKL    LIFE. 

works  were  wrought,  as  the  great  multitude 
surged  around  the  dwelling,  bringing  the  sick 
and  all  who  had  any  malady  to  the  gracious 
Healer.  Once,  on  entering  the  house,  Me  found 
the  mother  of  the  apostle's  wife  sick  with  a  great 
fevcn  With  a  touch  of  His  hand  He  healed  her, 
so  that  she  inimcdiately  rose  and  ministered  unto 
them.  From  that  blessed  home  our  Lord  began 
His  troubled  ministry.  At  Capernaum  fourgreat 
roads  centered,  on  whose  crowded  highways 
traffic  passed  from  Jerusalem,  from  the  Mediter- 
ranean Sea,  and  from  the  valley  of  the  Jordan. 
Four  thousand  vessels  vexed  the  waters  of  the 
Sea  of  Galilee,  rude  boats  of  fishermen,  mer- 
chant vessels,  yachts  of  nobles,  and  the  armed 
craft  of  conquering  Rome.  In  its  busy  marts 
men  of  many  nationalities  met  in  the  keen  con- 
tentions of  trade.  The  amazing  miiacles  of  the 
Master  and  His  words  of  authority  were  the 
theme  of  many  tongues,  and  a  wide  fame  of  Him 
went  forth  into  all  the  region  round  about  and 
far  into  the  territories  of  heathendom. 

Anotiier  of  the  homes  of  our  Lord  was  the 
house  of  the  little  family  at  Bethany,  whose 
members  He  greatly  loved.  Bethany  was  a 
quiet  hamlet,  a  little  out  of  Jerusalem,  and  thither 
He  turned  His  footsteps  after  His  day's  labors 
in  the  hot  and  turbulent  places  of  the  noisy 
capital.  Grateful  to  Him  then  were  the  holy 
calm  of  skies  that  bent  in  their  serene  splendor 
above  Him,  jeweled  with  the   revolving  worlds 


HOMES    AND    FKIENDS    OF    CHRIST.  57 

that  His  own  hand  had  made,  the  peace  of  fields 
waving  with  luxurious  harvests  and  fragrant 
with  dewy  flowers,  the  low  evening  songs  of 
birds  fluttering  to  their  hidden  nests,  and  the 
brooding  silences  of  the  solemn  olive-woods. 
With  His  dear  friends, — Martha,  full  of  domestic 
solicitude,  Mary  with  devout  tenderness  listening 
to  His  every  word,  and  Lazarus  thoughtful  and 
sensible,— He  spent  the  cool  evenings  in  holy 
meditation  and  delightiul  talkand  in  communion 
at  the  family  altar  of  prayer.  For  that  home 
He  wrought  the  most  striking  of  all  His  miiacles 
in  the  raising  of  His  friend  Lazarus  from  the 
dead  :  bringing  back  joy  to  the  stricken  family, 
and  asserting,  almost  in  the  very  sight  of  the 
scoffing  capital,  His  kingly  divinity.  In  that 
home,  or  by  one  of  its  inmates,  the  exquisite 
offering  oi  the  precious  s[)ikenard  was  made  to 
Him,  when  Mary  in  the  promptings  of  her  deep 
love  brcjke  the  alabaster  vase  and  poured  the 
costly  perfuiue  upon  the  head  and  then  upon 
the  feet  of  her  adored  Friend,  and,  while  the 
house  was  filled  with  the  delicate  odor,  wiped 
His  anointed  feet  with  her  own  flowing  hair.  In 
that  home,  too.  He  spent  one  of  the  last  nights 
of  His  stay  on  earth.  He  had  turned  away 
from  the  city,  from  its  throngs  of  cruel  men, 
from  its  profaned  temple  ;  from  the  heights  of 
Olivet,  looking  down  upon  the  fated  city  that 
had  rejected  its  one  Deliverer ;  He  had  spoken 
His  tender  and    warning   and  doom-full  words  ; 


58  THE    MODKL     MFE. 

and  sadiv,  thinking  of  all  that  He  would  have 
(lone  for  tiiose  who  abused  and  vilified  Him, 
thinking  of  that  lonely,  sacrificial  death  in  which 
He  was  soon  to  make  atonement  for  the  sins 
not  of  Jerusalem  alone,  but  of  the  world  of  sin- 
ners, He  passed  to  the  repose  of  Bethany,  to 
the  sympathies  of  those  with  whom  He  was 
moie  than  all  the  world  beside. 

Still  another  home  of  our  Lord  may  have  been 
that  in  the  large  upper  room  of  which  He  par- 
took of  the  Passover  feast  witii  His  disciples, 
and  where  He  instituted  the  sacramental  supper. 
He  seems  to  have  been  familiar  with  the  owner 
of  the  house,  for  He  sent  two  of  His  most  trusted 
disciples  into  Jerusalem,  telling  them  that  they 
would  there  meet  a  man  bearing  a  pitcher  of 
water,  and  that  they  should  follow  him  into  the 
house  whereinto  he  should  go,  and  that  they 
should  ask  the  goodman  of  the  house  for  the  use 
of  the  large  furnished  upper  room  for  Jesus 
and  His  disciples,  in  which  they  might  observe 
the  Passover.  Other  homes  also  there  may 
have  been  in  which  Christ  was  received  as  an 
honored  and  beloved  guest,  of  which  no  mention 
is  made  in  the  sacred  record.  But  from  what 
is  stated  of  these  •auA  of  their  inmates  we  may 
estimate  the  great,  dear  friendship  of  our  Lord. 

It  was  the  friendship  of  a  large  nature.  It 
took  in  men  of  all  degrees.  It  touched  and  en- 
folded humanit}-  at  every  point.  Men  of  learn- 
ing  were  strongly   attached  to  Him  ;    ignorant 


THK  HOMES  AND  FRIENDS  OF  CHRIST.  59 

men  as  well.  Men  of  wealth  were  His  friends; 
the  poor  were  so  also.  Students  and  fishermen, 
rulers  and  servants,  alike  gave  Him  their  hearts. 
Not  only  did  He  know  all  men,  but  He  loved 
all  men.  His  mission  to  our  world  was  a  mis- 
sion of  love,  and  so  He  was  ready  to  welcome 
to  His  confidence  and  affection  all  who  proved 
themselves  worthy.  The  distinctions  that  men 
affect  were  of  little  consequence  or  concern  with 
Him.  He  looked  through  the  outward  and 
seeming  to  that  which  was  genuine  and  con- 
trolling. His  friendships,  therefore,  were  with 
real  persons,  with  those  who  were  what  they 
claimed  to  be.  For  men  to  be  His  confidants, 
His  chosen  apostles,  founders  and  propagators 
of  His  religion  among  men,  He  called  plain  fish- 
ermen ;  men  of  brawny  arms,  but  of  brainy 
heads  and  hearts  full  of  warm  blood,  who  would 
do  and  dare  for  one  they  loved  to  the  death  of 
mart3'rdom.  To  them  He  opened  as  fully  as 
He  could  the  nature  of  His  kingdom,  and  al- 
though they  did  not  fully  grasp  it  till  their 
friendship  was  sanctified  in  His  death,  thence- 
forth their  love  turned  into  passion,  and  Christ 
and  His  cross  were  the  theme  of  their  words 
and  the  mastery  of  their  lives. 

His  own  life  was  such  that  human  friendships 
were  inevitable.  He  was  a  man  amonof  men. 
In  Nazareth,  from  His  youth  up.  He  was  a 
plain,  busy  carpenter.  He  did  not  live  in 
luxury.     He  did   not  court    the    style  of  kings, 


60  THE    MODEL    LIFE. 

He  was  approachable  by  all.  The  cries  that 
came  to  Him  for  help  from  the  blind  beggars 
by  the  wayside  were  as  irresistible  as  those 
that  came  from  the  luxurious  home  of  the  Roman 
centurion. 

The  {)itcous  appeal  of  the  Syro  Phoinician 
woman,  over  in  the  regions  of  Tyre  and  Sidon, 
beyond  the  range  of  His  usual  ministrations, 
woke  the  sensibilities  of  His  responsive  soul  as 
deeply  as  the  courteous  request  of  a  nobleman 
from  the  court  of  Herod.  One  appealed  for 
the  healing  of  her  beloved  daughter,  with  a  stren- 
uous faith  that  would  take  no  denial  :  the  other 
for  the  healing  of  his  dying  son  with  a  passionate 
imperiousness  which  mocked  the  discipline  ot 
delay:  while  heathen  woman  and  haughty  Roman 
alike  warmed  in  their  love  to  Him  who  pitied 
the  brokenness  of  th.e  parental  heart.  The 
sn(jws  of  Lebanon  had  not  chilled  the  one,  nor 
the  ice  of  the  court  the  other. 

The  friendships  of  Christ  are  strikingly  and 
beautifully  illustrated  in  the  relations  of  woman 
to  our  Lord.  These  relations  characterize  and 
distinguish  the  Founder  of  the  Christian  faith  : 
they  remove  and  separate  Him  from  all  others 
who  are  responsible  for  religious  systems  and 
serve  to  exalt  Christianity  to  its  true  and  fore- 
most rank.  Woman  was  the  friend  of  Christ. 
He  ennobled  that  sex  in  the  righteous  claims 
that  He  made  for  it;  His  religion  was  its  cham- 
pion :  and  the  result  has  been  seen  in  the  exalta- 


The  Homes  akd  li-RlENDS  of  Christ.  61 

tion  of  woman  to  her  true  place  of  equality  with 
man  wherever  Christianity  has  wrought  its 
blessed  works.  The  reward  came  quickly  and 
generously  to  the  Master  Himself  in  the  pure 
love  and  the  gracious  sympathy  of  the  women 
who  came  into  personal  and  intimate  acquaint- 
ance with  Him.  We  have  already  seen  how  it 
was  with  His  friends,  Martha  and  Mary,  whose 
house  in  the  quietude  of  Bethany  was  His  favor- 
ite home.  Mary  sat  at  His  feet  as  though  He 
were  a  beloved  brother  who  had  many  things  to 
tell  which  she  dearly  loved  to  hear.  Martha 
makes  complaint  to  Him,  with  utter  frankness, 
of  her  sister's  neglect,  as  though  He  were  the 
master  of  their  house.  The  woman  of  Samaria, 
entirely  a  stranger  to  Him,  yields  to  the  magic 
of  His  words— w(jrds  that  reveal  His  knowledge 
of  her  secret  and  sinful  life,  startle  her  out  of 
her  delusions  and  force  her  ackowlcdgment  that 
He  is  indeed  the  Messiah  for  whose  coming  her 
people  were  expectantly  waiting. 

It  is  an  impressive  incident  which  is  given  of  a 
sinful  woman  coming  to  the  Saviour  in  the 
house  of  a  Pharisee  whose  courteous  invitation 
He  had  accepted,  that  she  might  express  her 
deep  repentance  and  her  glowing  love.  She 
did  not  look  into  His  face,  but  she  bowed  lowly 
at  His  feet,  wetting  tliem  with  her  flowing  tears, 
and  wiping  them  with  her  luxuriant  hair,  and 
kissing  His  feet,  and  anointing  them  with 
costly  ointment.     Joy  came  to  her  broken  and 


6^2  *rHE   MObKL   LIFE. 

contrite  heart  as  the  Master  graciously  said  to 
her,  "  Thy  sins  are  forgiven.  Thy  faith  hath 
saved  thee;  go  in  peace."  A  mother  who  loved 
the  Lord,  and  who  had  been  nuich  with  Him, 
and  whose  two  sons  held  eminent  rank  among 
His  aj)OStles,  wdien  it  looked  as  though  His 
kingdom  was  growing  in  power,  came  to  Him, 
with  a  generous  confidence,  yet  with  a  glowing 
ambition  for  her  children,  and  besought  that 
they  might  sit,  one  on  His  right  hand  and  the 
other  on  His  left  hand,  in  His  approaching 
royalty. 

It  was  not  long  in  the  course  of  our  Lord's 
ministry  before  a  group  of  women  who  loved 
Him,  and  had  notable  occasion  to  love  Him, 
were  united  in  care  for  the  ^Lister  and  His 
chosen  twelve.  They  were  women  of  position 
and  property,  whose  influence  was  great  and 
whose  character  and  standing  were  without 
reproach.  The  first  in  this  female  circle  was 
Mary  that  was  called  ^L^gdalene,  from  whom 
seven  demons  had  gone  out.  She  is  reputed  to 
have  been  a  woman  of  wealth  and  rare  beauty, 
who  was  won  from  her  earlier  life  by  the 
awakening  of  her  better  nature  under  the 
influence  of  Christ,  and  who  thenceforward 
gave  herself,  her  fortune  and  her  time  to  a 
cheerful  ministry  to  the  One  to  whom  she 
owed  herself.  Her  name  has  passed  into  the 
languages  of  Christendom  as  the  representative 
of  true  repentance  and  devoted  love,  and  insti- 


THE  HOMKS  AND  FRIE^fDl9  OF  CHRlST.  63 

tutions  of  Christian  charity  have  welcomed  to 
their  loving  hospitality  the  Magdalens  of  the 
sinful  world.  The  second  of  this  circle  was 
Joanna,  the  wife  of  Chuzas,  a  steward  of  Herod's 
palace.  This  Chuzas  is  thought  to  be  that  king's 
offjcer,  whose  son  lying  at  the  point  of  death 
was  healed  by  the  will  of  Christ,  so  that  Joanna, 
after  the  death  of  her  husband,  gladly  attached 
herself  to  the  great  Restorer  of  her  boy. 
Susanna,  meaning  Lily,  is  mentioned  as  one  of 
them  :  and  there  were  many  others. 

This  choice  company  of  noble  and  devoted 
souls  belonged  to  the  family  of  our  Lord,  and 
wherever  He  went  through  cities  and  villages 
that  crowded  the  fertile  territories  of  Galilee 
and  Judea,  bringing  to  their  sinful  and  worldly 
populations  the  good  tidings  of  the  Kingdom  of 
God,  they  were  present  with  their  womanly 
tact  and  their  domestic  skill,  to  make  a  home 
for  the  weary  Teacher  and  the  benevolent 
Healer. 

We  hear  of  them  again  among  the  last  scenes 
of  the  life  of  Christ.  They  stood  in  sadness  and 
horror  on  the  heights  of  Calvary  when  the  mer- 
ciless tragedy  of  the  crucifixion  was  enacted. 
Their  sobs  broke  on  the  awful  stillness  of  that 
hour  of  darkness.  Their  loving  hearts  were 
wrung  by  the  agony  of  their  dearest  Friend. 
Any  one  of  them  would  have  taken  His  place 
that  so  He  might  be  spared.  Possibly  they 
thought  He  would  exert  His  miraculous  power 


64  THE  MODEL  LiFfi. 

for  His  own  relief.  They  tiiought  of  all  that  He 
had  done  for  the  poor  and  the  suffering  during 
tlie  years  that  they  had  accompanied  Him.  Ah  ! 
they  could  not  know  the  still  diviner  work  which 
in  His  wounds  and  bitter  pain  and  broken  heart, 
He  was  accomplishing  on  the  cross  for  the 
atonement  of  the  sins  of  the  world  ! 

There  were  Mary  Magdalene  and  Mary  the 
wife  of  CIoj)as,  and  Salome,  and  his  own  beloved 
mother,  Mary,  in  the  supreme  trial  of  her  life, 
for  whom  almost  His  last  thought  was  given  and 
His  last  word  spoken.  These,  last  at  the  cross, 
were  first  at  the  tomb,  to  which  in  the  ghjaming 
of  the  morning  they  brought  precious  spices, 
after  the  manner  of  their  people.  Again  they 
were  Mary  Magdalene  and  INL-uy  the  mother  of 
James  and  Joanna  and  the  other  women,  and  to 
them,  so  faithful  and  beloved,  the  risen  Saviour 
first  appeared  :  and  first  of  all  to  Maiy  Magda- 
lene, whose  soul  burned  with  the  enthusiasm  of 
a  love  which  death  could  not  destroy,  and  who 
first  of  all  thrilled  the  souls  of  the  paralyzed 
apostles  with  the  victorious  words,  "  I  have  seen 
the  Lord  !" 

Most  sacred  was  the  relation  of  these  true 
soids  to  Christ.  He  returned  their  love  with 
the  benignity  and  affection  of  one  who  brought 
from  heaven  a  divine  nature  to  be  m3'steriously 
united  to  our  human  nature,  with  its  wants  and 
sympatliies  and  pure  aspirations.  He  restored 
to  woman  her  ap[)ropriate  dignity  and  entrusted 


THE  HOMES  AND  FRIENDS  OF  CHRIST.  65 

to  his  world-religion    the    maintenance    of    her 
rights  and  the  sacredness  of  her  character. 

Art  and  poetry  have  alike  honored  and  pre- 
served the  love  of  our  Lord  for  little  children. 
Children  loved  him  and  were  drawn  to  Him  by 
that  attraction  which  they  instinctively  feel  for 
great  souls  who  have  the  God-like  spirit.  When 
He  took  them  from  their  mothers,  and  folded 
them  in  His  royal  arms,  and  laid  His  gentle 
hands  upon  them,  and  blessed  them,  they  nestled 
in  his  bosom,  laid  their  heads  over  the  great 
heart  that  throbbed  with  a  divine  love  for  them, 
looked  love  into  eyes  that  spake  back  a  pure 
affection  for  them,  and  caressed  the  mighty  man 
who  was  the  God  of  children.  Memorable  for 
all  time  are  the  thrilling  words  of  the  Master  as 
He  spread  forth  His  arms  in  welcome  to  the 
little  ones  who  eagerly  came  to  Him  :  "  Suffer 
the  little  children  to  come  unto  me:  forbid  tliem 
not:  for  to  such  belongs  the  kingdom  of  God." 
And  then,  as  putting  new  honor  on  the  child- 
like disposition,  He  spoke,  with  the  blessed 
children  in  His  arms,  to  the  great  outside,  proud, 
self-willed  world  :  "  Whosoever  shall  not  receive 
the  kingdom  of  God  as  a  little  child,  he  shall  in 
no  wise  enter  therein."  He  thought  of  the  many 
children  whom  He  had  welcomed  to  heaven, 
lost  out  of  lonely  homes  on  earth,  but  saved  for 
the  glad  reunions  that  are  to  come,  and  He  said, 
"  In  heaven  their  angels  do  always  behold  the  face 
of  my  Father  who  is  in  heaven  !" 


66  THK    MODE  I.    LIFE. 

The  friendships  of  Christ  were  also  with  strong 
men.  Two  distinguished  members  of  theSanlie- 
drim,  men  of  leaining  and  of  enormous  wealth  ; 
men  of  candor,  but  with  the  timidity  which 
sometimes  marks  those  whoare  in  high  positions, 
who  had  sought  Christ  perhaps  secretly  to  learn 
of  the  kingdom  and  of  the  way  of  life,  proved 
their  affection  by  the  honors  which  the}^  paid  to 
the  wounded  body  of  the  Lord,  when  they  took 
charge  of  it,  embalmed  it  in  fine  linen  and  costly 
aromatic  spices,  and  laid  it  gently  awa}-  in  a  new 
tomb  which  one  of  them  had  cut  in  the  solid 
rock  for  his  own  place  of  burial.  We  recall  the 
tender  love  which  Christ  had  for  the  wealthy 
and  ambitious  young  ruler  who  inquired  of  Him, 
"  What  good  thing  shall  I  do  that  I  may  inherit 
eternal  life?"  and  who  could  not  endure  the  cru- 
cial test  which  the  Master  gave  him.  We  recall 
the  beautiful  friendship,  the  love  that  was 
wonderful,  passing  the  love  of  women,  which 
subsisted  between  the  Saviour  and  that  disciple 
whom  Jesus  loved.  We  recall  that  three-fold 
inquiry  which  He  put  to  His  trusted,  brave  but 
weak,  disciple,  as  if  to  fasten  his  affection  firmly 
to  Him,"  Lovest  thou  me?"  We  recall  the  eager- 
ness with  which  publicans  attached  themselves 
to  Him  and  especially  the  zeal  of  Zaccheus,  who 
consecrated  his  person  and  his  property  to 
Christianservice.  Men,  true  men  in  every  grade 
of  life,  loved  this  Man  of  men,  jioured  their  souls 
into  His  soul,  gave  Him  all  that  they  had  to  give, 


HOMES    AND  FRIENDS  OF  CHRIST.  67 

toiled  with  Him,  died  for  Him.  There  is  noth- 
ing in  history  more  supremely  impressive  than 
the  affection,  which  life  could  not  altogether 
express,  which  only  death  could  sanctify,  that 
strong  men  have  cherished  for  their  divine 
Redeemer. 

Still,  the  divinest  fact,  and  the  one  that  should 
touch  and  thrill  all  our  souls,  which  makes 
this  dark  world  light,  which  revolutionizes  our 
human  history,  and  evolves  new  destiny  for  a 
ruined  race,  which  makes  tender  and  irresistible 
appeal  to  each  one  of  us,  is  the  blazing  truth, 
which  should  be  engraven  in  every  place  of  our 
assembling,  and  should  be  burned  ineffaceabl}' 
upon  our  souls,  that  He,  the  Lord  of  glory,  was 
the  Friend  of  Sinners. 


THE  GREAT  TEACHER. 

Typoyravure— Le  Loir 


VI. 

CHRIST  AS   AN   ETHICAL  TEACHER. 

IjHRISTIAN  ethics  defines  the  practical 
principles  of  human  dut3\  A  life  con- 
formed to  the  ethical  system  of  the  New 
Testament  would  be  a  perfect  human  life.  The 
relations  of  men  to  one  another  would  be  con- 
genial and  harmonious  were  they  entirely  con- 
trolled by  the  dominance  in  each  individual  of 
the  truths  of  Christianity  as  applied  to  personal 
conduct.  Society  and  business  and  government 
would  be  elevated  and  transfigured  were  they 
modeled  on  and  pervaded  by  the  doctrines  of  life 
and  of  responsibility  which  our  Lord  has  clearly 
established.  No  other  religious  legislator  has 
comprehended  so  thoroughly  the  need  of  man- 
kind as  the  Son  of  Man  has  comprehended  it. 
No  other  system  has  been  so  sagaciously  adapted 
to  the  conditions  of  the  human  race  as  the  Chris- 
tian system  has  been  adapted.  The  more  fully 
men,  individually  and  socially,  have  accepted 
and  practiced  the  principles  of  personal  and 
common  duty  as  laid  down  b}^  Christ,  the  nearer 
society  has  come  to  a  state  of  ideal  perfection. 
It  is  plain  to  see  that  the  supposed   millenium 

[69] 


YO  THK    MODEL    LIFE. 

must  rest  upon  the  adoption  and  universal  prev- 
alence of  ideas  ol  conduct  which  belong,  if  not 
exclusively,  predominatingly,  to  Christianity. 
The  Christian  system  of  morals  is  closely  allied 
to  a  perfect  system  of  religion:  and  in  this  fact 
rests  its  superiority.  Other  theories  of  philoso- 
phy and  religion,  which  are  of  human  invention, 
are  superficial  and  limited:  but  Christianity  is 
profound  in  its  adaptation  to  human  wants  and 
its  requirements  of  human  action.  It  is  a  system 
for  men,  as  they  are,  and  as  God  sees  that  they 
are,  and  is  divinely  adapted  to  them  for  their 
elevation  and  their  congeniality  and  their  com- 
mon happiness  and  prosperity. 

So  an  able  writer  of  our  day,  not  writing  from 
a  religious  stand-point,  says:  "  It  was  the  distin- 
guishing characteristic  of  Christianity,  that  its 
moral  influence  was  not  indirect,  casual,  remote, 
or  spasmodic.  Unlike  all  Pagan  religions,  it 
made  moral  teaching  a  main  function  of  its 
clergy,  moral  discipline  the  leading  object  of  its 
services,  moral  dispositions  the  necessar}^  condi- 
tion of  the  due  performance  of  its  rites.  By  the 
pulpit,  by  its  ceremonies,  by  all  the  agencies 
of  power  it  possessed,  it  labored  systematically 
and  perseveringly  for  the  regeneration  of  man- 
kind. Under  its  influence,  doctrines  concerning 
the  nature  of  God,  the  immortality  of  the  soul, 
and  the  duties  of  men,  which  the  noblest  intel- 
lects of  antiquity  could  barely  grasp,  have 
become    the   truisms  of    the    village  school,  the 


CHRIST   AS    AN    ETHICAL   TEACHER.  J 1 

proverbs  of  the  cottao^e  aiul  of  the  alley."  Chris- 
tian men,  Christian  families,  Christian  society, 
Christian  nations,  show  the  excellence  of  the 
Christian  system,  in  the  ordinar\'  conduct  of  life. 
Apart  from  that  which  is  spiritual,  the  ethical 
principles  of  the  Christian  scheme  tend  to  the 
elevation  of  character  and  to  the  ritrhteousness 
of  conduct,  and  to  the  fair  treatment  of  others  on 
narrow  or  on  broad  fields  of  human  relation. 

The  ethics  of  Christ  tends  to  noble  life  and  up- 
lifting influence.  Short-sighiedness  and  selfish- 
ness are  rebuked.  Justice  to  others  is  required. 
We  are  not  at  liberty  to  look  on  our  own  things 
exclusively  ;  we  are  to  have  regard  for  the  real 
welfare  of  others.  Human  frailty  appeals  pity- 
ingly to  us;  and  as  Christ  bore  our  sins  and 
carried  our  sorrows,  so  we  are  to  be  helpful  to 
the  unfortunate  and  the  suffering.  We  are  not 
to  measure  duty  by  the  flaccid  claims  of  ease 
and  self-indulgence,  but  we  are  to  rejoice  in  the 
privilege  of  self-sacrifice  and  self-abnegation. 
Personal  influence  should  be  as  the  salt  of  the 
earth  :  personal  example,  as  the  light  of  the 
world.  Manhood  should  stand  forth  in  its  ideal 
significance  to  us.  Each  human  soul  should  be 
weighed  in  balances  that  bear  the  stamp  of 
eternity. 

The  great  principles  of  the  equality  of  men,  of 
the  co-equality  of  women,  of  the  dignity  of 
labor,  of  the  rights  of  the  lowly,  of  the  sacred- 
ness  of  the   home,  of  the   perpetualness  of  the 


72  THE   MODEL    LIFE. 

marriage-bond,  of  personal  freedom,  of  the  title 
of  each  man  to  himself,  of  civil  liberty,  are  made 
fundamental  and  controlling.  Brotherhood  is 
co-extensive  with  the  human  family.  Charity 
ministers  to  the  needy  everywhere.  Love 
binds  and  blesses  all  men  with  its  sweet  and 
sacred  cords.  Such  is  the  range  and  dominance 
of  ethical  purity  and  power. 

The  Sermon  on  the  Mount,  the  longest  and 
most  comprehensive  of  the  Discourses  of  Christ, 
is  full  of  the  ethics  of  His  S3Stem.  In  it,  with 
the  grace  of  beatitudes.  He  puts  in  the  forefront, 
poverty  of  spirit,  mourning,  meekness,  hunger 
and  thirst  after  righteousness,  mercifulness, 
purity,  peacemaking. 

Then,  He  puts  the  crown  on  persecution. 
Those  Avho  bear  His  royal  Name  are  to  let  light 
shine  forth  from  them  into  the  darkness  of  the 
world.  They  are  to  honor  the  old  law  of  con- 
duct by  principles  that  are  deeper  and  that  sway 
unseen  thought  and  feeling,  so  superseding 
the  primitive  commandments  by  a  life  against 
which  they  could  not  be  leveled.  Mui-der,  adul- 
tery, perjury,  revenge,  the  whole  breed  of  base 
indulgences,  were  traced  to  their  source  and 
seat  and  were  outlawed  there.  Lo\e,  by  the 
new  commandment,  extends  to  enemies  as 
well  as  to  friends.  Beneficence,  prayer,  fasting, 
are  not  of  show  and  outward  observance  :  the}' 
are  secret  graces  known  of  God  :  soul  treasures 
sent  forward  and  laid  up  in  heaven. 


CHKIST    AS   AN    ETHICAL   TEACHER.  73 

The  world,  with  what  it  can  give,  is  relegated 
to  its  true  place  of  subordinate  concern,  and  God 
is  enthroned,  in  the  mind.  So  carking  anxiety 
about  this  life,  as  to  what  we  shall  eat  and  drink 
and  wear,  is  rebuked,  and  aspiration  for  the 
heavenly  kingdom  is  stimulated.  Confidence  in 
God,  the  confidence  which  puts  us  in  the  place 
of  children  before  a  Father  who  is  able  and  will- 
ing to  do  for  us  all  that  we  can  properly  desire, 
is  sanctioned  and  urged. 

Such  life,  ethically  ideal,  making  the  divine 
kingdom  dominant,  may  be  like  the  entrance  to 
a  narrow  gate  and  a  strait  way,  but  it  leads 
plainly  and  victoriously  to  a  joyful  ending.  It 
would  be  known  here  by  the  blessed  fruits  of  it, 
and  it  would  give  free  admittance  to  the  kingdom 
of  heaven.  So  the  building  of  human  life,  on  this 
Christian  model  and  by  these  Christly  specifica- 
tions, would  be  like  the  erection  of  a  house  upon 
a  rock,  which  tempests  of  rain  and  wind  could 
not  move:  while  anything  lower  and  less  would 
be  like  placing  a  structure  upon  quicksands, 
which,  smitten  by  hurricane  and  flood,  would 
fall,  and  great  would  be  the  fall  thereof! 

This  ethical  Discourse,  in  its  wonderful  terms, 
has  wrought  into  and  through  it  the  religious 
sentiment.  Christ  could  speak  no  otherwise. 
To  Him  life  is  one.  Man,  in  this  world,  is  the 
child  of  God.  He  is  not  to  live  under  one  set  of 
principles  as  a  man  of  the  world,  and  under 
another  set  of   principles  as  a   member  of    the 


74  THK    MODKL    LIFE. 

licaveiily  kingdom.  Whatever  place  he  may 
liold  here,  the  phice  of  a  hiborer,  or  the  place  of 
a  sovereign,  he  is  to  be  perfect,  he  is  to  aim  to 
be  like  God. 

Faith  is  a  universal  principle.  It  is  to  control 
the  whole  life.  It  is  to  hold  the  free  soul  to  an 
unwavering  and  constant  confidence  in  God. 
And  so  when  Christ  is  presented,  the  free  soul 
will  gladly  and  hrnily  lay  hold  on  Him  as  a  Sav- 
iour. Religion  is  the  crown  of  ethics.  It  is  the 
fulfillment  of  the  ethical  system.  Christianity  is 
the  doctrine  of  right  living.  It  is  the  perfection 
of  dut}'.  And  any  science  of  conduct  which  does 
not  include  repentance  for  sin  and  faith  in  the 
Redeemer  and  obedience  of  divine  law,  is  imper- 
fect and  insufficient.  In  this  is  the  superiority 
of  the  ethics  of  Christ.  It  sweeps  the  field  of 
human  relations  and  conduct,  for  time,  for  im- 
mortality as  well. 

The  ambitious  disciples  wished  to  know  who 
would  be  the  greatest  in  the  kingdom  of  whose 
coming  they  thought  they  saw  the  signs.  The 
Lord's  answer  was  that  he  who  was  last  would 
be  fiist,  that  he  wIkj  served  most  would  be  on 
the  throne,  that  the  most  childlike  would  be  the 
most  kingly. 

The  young  ruler  thought  that  he  was  an  asjjir- 
ant  for  the  heavenly  life.   lie  had  kept  the  old  law. 
But  Christ  challenged  Him  to  that  full  surrender 
which    would  prove  his  genuineness,  the  surien 
dcr  of  his  worldly  wealth.     He  had  great  posses- 


CHRIST    AS    AN    ETHICAL    Tf^ACHER.  Y5 

sions,  and  he  clung  to  them  with  a  supreme  h)ve. 
He  could  not  stand  so  severe  a  test.  He  nnght 
have  been  another  Paul.  But  his  name  was 
never  known. 

And  when  Peter,  roused  by  the  incident,  put 
in  a  claim  for  himself  and  his  colleagues  as  hav- 
ing forsaken  all  to  follow  Christ,  the  Master 
encouraged  him  by  the  rewards  which  are  sure 
to  self-sacrifice,  rewards  which  mount  to  hun- 
dred-fold receipts  even  here  and  the  glories  of 
eternal  recompense  hereafter.  The  doctrine  of 
self-sacrifice  was  one  to  which  Christ  gave  great 
stress  in  His  ethical  teachings.  There  must  be 
self-denial,  cross-bearing,  persistent  following  of 
the  Master  if  one  would  save  his  life.  That  life 
is  a  lost  life  which  is  employed,  used  up,  in  gain- 
ing the  world,  even  if  it  amasses  the  whole 
world.  The  forfeit  is  too  great.  It  is  laying 
down  an  immort.il  soul  for  the  perishable  earth. 
The  deeds  of  this  life  are  in  the  reckoning  for 
immortality  :  they,  in  fact,  are  the  terms  which 
determine  decision  for  eternity.  Christ  urged 
upon  men  that  they  should  count  the  cost. 
Count  the  cost  of  action  :  of  the  plans  you  make, 
of  the  enterprises  in  which  you  engage,  of  the 
warfare  that  you  plunge  into,  of  the  structures 
that  you  build.  Put  your  hand  to  the  plow,  not 
to  turn  back,  but  for  tillage  and  for  harvest. 
Life,  to  be  true  and  fruitful,  must  be  a  service: 
hard  perhaps,  thankless  possibly,  little  appreci- 
ated by    the   unintelligent,  often  lonely,  depress- 


76  THE   MODEL    MFE. 

ing,  sacrificial,  rcspoiKled  to  by  words  which  are 
weak  and  not  by  acts  wliicli  hohl  strength  and 
sense:  yet  self-rewarding,  having  the  beginnings 
of  heaven  in  it. 

Our  Loid  had  stern  rebuke  and  denunciation 
of  the  piidc  and  hypocrisy  of  the  Pharisees. 
He  could  not  brocjk  their  ceremonial  formalism, 
their  vaunted  self-righte(jusness,  their  contempt 
of  others,  their  falseness  and  avarice  and  pride. 
He  honored  humil.ity  antl  repentance  and  the 
benevolent  spirit.  He  cliaracterized  the  mean 
and  crafty  and  perjuicd  Herod  as  "  that  fox." 
He  called  the  venomous  Pharisees,  "offspring  of 
vipers."  He  told  the  wicked  Jews  that  they  were 
of  their  "father  the  devil."  But  He  was  full  of 
tenderness  for  the  suffering  and  the  penitent. 
Out  of  His  heart  went  sympathy  for  the  lowly, 
help  for  the  burdened,  compassion  for  the  dis- 
tressed, forgiveness  for  the  penitent.  With 
withering  scorn  He  frowned  on  those  who 
would  gratify  their  malice,  or  justify  their 
wickedness,  by  inflictions  of  pain  on  others:  but 
His  hand  was  strong  to  heal  and  to  raise  up  the 
wounded  and  fallen. 

Love  to  God  and  love  to  man  summarized  all 
law,  all  commandments,  all  duty. 

The  most  comprehensive  and  practical  maxim 
of  Christian  ethics  is  that  which,  for  its  perfect 
adaptation  to  control  men  in  their  relaticjn  to 
one  another,  has  been  called  the  Golden  Rule. 
Something  like  it   has  been   suggested  in  other 


CHRIST  AS  AN  ETHICAL  TEACHER.  77 

systems,  but  in  limited  or  negative  forms. 
Christ  promulges  it  as  an  affirmative  and  posi- 
tive and  all-controlling  principle.  It  is  a  law  of 
laws.  It  reaches  to  all  conduct,  all  acts,  as 
between  man  and  man.  We  are  to  put  ourselves 
in  the  other's  place.  We  are  to  think  how  we 
would  wish  to  be  treated  in  the  present  con- 
ditions. We  are  to  represent  our  neighbor.  We 
are  to  stand  in  our  brother's  footsteps.  Then, 
as  we  would  that  they  should  do  unto  us,  even 
so  are  we  to  do  also  unto  them.  How  such  a 
golden  rule  of  conduct  does  away  with  harsh 
judgments  !  How  it  prevents  the  anticipation 
of  evil,  the  forming  of  uncharitable  opinions,  the 
charges  of  supposed  wrong-doing,  the  easy 
acceptance  of  dark  suspicions,  the  indulgence  of 
envy  and  low-running  jealousies,  the  cultivating 
of  unwarranted  prejudice,  the  utterance  of  sharp 
and  severe  accusations,  the  reflection  upon 
personal  honor  and  the  intimation  of  a  lack  of 
personal  magnanimity  !  Stand  there  for  your 
fellow-man  !  Put  yourself  in  his  place.  Then 
ask,  how  you  would  like  to  have  him  judge  you, 
what  treatment  you  would  be  pleased  to  receive 
from  him,  and  then  according  to  your  opinion 
so  formed,  judge  and  treat  your  fellow-man. 
Truly  the  practice  of  that  maxim  would  work 
an  ethical  revolution  in  manners  and  morals. 

But  the  ethical  system  of  Christianity  acquires 
its  greatest  authority  and  influence  by  the  living 
example  of    its  Founder.     He  was  the   Perfect 


THE    MODEL    LIFE. 


Man.  In  Him  met  and  harmonized  all  excel- 
lences and  all  virtues.  The  boy  Jesus  was  a  per- 
fect Boy.  The  carpenter  of  Nazareth  was  a  per. 
feet  workman.  He  was  a  perfect  Friend,  a  |)er- 
fect  Leader,  a  perfect  Saviour.  All  His  relations 
to  men  were  squared  by  the  Golden  Rule  which 
He  announced  :  nay,  they  rose  above  that  rule, 
as  the  heavens  rise  above  the  earth,  in  the  incom- 
parable grandeur  and  hcavenlincss  of  their  ben- 
eficent experience.  He  spake  indeed  as  man 
never  spake:  yet  he  spoke  to  human  need  and 
for  men's  recovery.  He  healed  as  God  would 
heal  :  yet  His  healing  was  for  the  relief  of  the 
sufferers  to  whom  He  came  near  and  whose 
human  cries  awoke  His  pity.  He  saved  as  only 
a  divine  Redeemer  could  save  :  yet  it  was  our 
sins  He  bore,  our  sorrows  He  carried,  our  trans- 
gressions for  which  He  was  wounded,  our  in- 
iquities for  which  he  was  bruised.  Never  has 
there  been  another  so  perfect  and  winning  exam- 
ple in  all  the  history  of  mankind.  He  draws  all 
men  unto  Him  by  the  power  of  a  Love  which 
embraces  them  all  as  an  atmosphere.  It  is  a 
Love  that  fills  the  world  as  the  sunshine  fills  its 
air,  pours  its  glory  on  all  landscapes,  streams 
into  clefts  and  fissures  and  all  deep,-  dark  places, 
gilds  the  foliage  and  the  flowers,  glimmers  on  the 
crests  of  waves  and  makes  the  great  sea  a  golden 
mirror,  lights  our  dwellings  and  flames  on  our 
altars  and  cheers  all  our  hearts  and  makes  the 
whole  globe  glad   with  the  life  that  it  preserves 


CHRIST    AS    AN    ETHICAL    TEACHER.  79 

and  nourishes  and  invigorates  !  Nothing  hin- 
ders it  :  nothing  but  men's  rejection  of  it.  It 
gives  to  Caesar  the  things  whicii  belong  to 
Caesar.  It  companies  with  publicans  and  sinners, 
and  wins  publicans  and  harlots  into  the  King- 
dom of  God.  It  teaches  all  voices  how  to  pray 
to  "  our  Father.  '  It  weeps  with  a  more  than 
human  sorrow  over  men  and  cities  of  men  whose 
doom  is  written  on  the  sk}'  that  bends  above 
them.  It  ennobles  labor  and  sanctifies  grief 
and  lifts  the  helpless  and  suffers  that  others  may 
rejoice.  It  enters  all  homes  and  would  make 
heaven  in  each  of  them.  It  calls  to  every  soul, 
in  every  condition  of  human  experience,  "  Come 
unto  me  !" 

And  this  example  is  of  power.  It  is  the 
strongest  force  in  the  world.  It  has  swayed 
men  in  all  the  Christian  ages,  in  all  differing 
nations,  under  all  conditions  and  varieties  of 
human  life,  as  the  hurricane  stirs  and  sways  the 
sea  to  its  deepest  abysses.  It  has  reformed  soci- 
ety. It  has  effected  a  humane  civilization.  It 
has  made  Christian  government  a  possibility. 
It  has  brought  honesty  into  business,  public 
spirit  into  legislation,  humanity  into  the  treat- 
ment of  criminals  and  animals,  order  into  soci- 
ety, refinement  into  personal  intercourse,  bless- 
edness into  homes.  There  is  no  power  like 
Love  :  and  Christ's  example  is  the  example  of  a 
boundless  love.  It  has  kindled  responsive  love. 
Men  and  women  and   little  children   have  been 


80  THE    MODKL    LIFE. 

ennobled  and  sanctified  and  thrilled  by  it,  so  that 
through  trouble,  through  sacrifice,  under  bur- 
dens, under  crosses,  they  have  wrought  for 
Christ  that  they  might  become  like  Him  and 
that  the  world  might  be  made  better  and  that 
righteousness  and  peace  might  kiss  each  other 
and  that  the  Golden  Rule  might  be  the  accepted 
law  of  mankind. 


VII. 

CHRIST  THE  SAVIOUR  OF   MEN. 

HE  errand,  I  might  rather  say  as  implying- 
more,  the  mission,  of  our  Lord  to  this 
world  was  one  of  Salvation.  Other  things 
were  included  in  it  and  contributed  to  tliis  one 
overshadowing  object.  A  Life  was  to  be  lived  out 
here  which  would  be  as  a  model  human  life.  A 
Teaching  was  to  be  set  forth  which  would  be  a 
correct  ethical  guide  to  conduct.  A  Discipline 
was  to  be  endured  which  would  be  for  the  sup- 
port and  consolation  of  all  who  are  in  the  experi- 
ences of  trial.  A  Testimony  was  to  be  given  for 
righteousness  which  would  rebuke  the  pride  of 
Pharisee,  the  skepticism  of  Sadducee,  the  petti- 
ness of  Scribe,  the  formalit}'  of  Essene. 

But  all  this,  important  as  it  might  be,  was  only 
secondary  and  subordinate  to  the  great  intention 
of  His  coming.  The  one  purpose,  masterful  of 
all  others,  which  brought  the  Son  of  God  into 
the  human  Sonship,  was  to  become  the  Saviour 
of  our  sinful  race.  Christ  Himself  declared  this 
most  plainly.  "  God  sent  not  His  Son  into  the 
world  to  judge  the  world  ;  but  that  the  world 
should  be  saved  through  Him."  This  He  said 
in  His  memorable  conversation  with  Nicodemus, 

L81J 


82  tllK    M(»i)KL    LIFE. 

a  learned  nieinber  of  the  Jcwisli  Sanhedrim,  to 
whom  our  Lord,  early  in  His  ministr\-,  stated 
the  great  fundamental  principles  of  His  mission. 
Nicodemus  came  to  Him  as  a  candid  but  timid 
inquirer,  and  he  received  a  frank  exposition  of 
what  the  Master  considered  most  essential  in 
His  system  :  God's  love,  man's  perishing  need, 
salvation  by  the  death  of  the  Son,  faith  as  the 
means  of  securing  the  benefits  of  Christ's  death, 
and  the  sad,  patent  fact,  that  although  the 
Redeemer  has  brought  light  into  the  world  on 
this  most  vital  matter,  men,  by  reason  of  their 
evil  works,  love  the  darkness  and  hate  the  light, 
and  will  not  come  to  the  light  that  they  may  be 
convicted  and  recovered.  That  was  the  plat- 
form of  principles  upon  which  Christianity 
rested,  and  it  remains  the  same  in  this,  as  in  pre- 
ceding centuries,  as  when  the  Lord  first 
announced  it. 

On  another  occasion,  when  the  mother  of  the 
sons  of  Zebedee,  who  were  of  the  apostles, 
worshiping,  sought  of  our  Lord  promotion  for 
her  sons  to  the  highest  places  in  His  victorious 
Kingdom,  He  closed  the  interview  with  words 
full  of  meaning  and  quite  the  opposite  of  their 
ambitious  vauntings:  "The  Son  of  man  came 
not  to  be  ministered  unto,  but  to  ministei', 
and  to  give  His  life  a  ransom  for  many."  The 
high  places  on  His  right  hand  and  on  His  left 
hand  were  places  of  the  cross,  and  the  cuj) 
which   He   was  to   drink,  and    which   they   said 


CHRIST   THE    SAVIOUR    OF   MEN.  83 

they  could  also  drink,  was  a  cup  of  suffering; 
in  His  case  suffering  in  which  no  friend  could 
share,  which  no  mortal  lips  could  taste. 

This  great  truth  became  the  banner-truth  of 
the  spreading  gospel.  It  was  the  watchword  of 
the  Apostles.  In  the  dark  days  when  the  whole 
Jewish  power  was  put  forth  to  exterminate  the 
infant  church,  Peter,  filled  with  the  Holy  Spirit, 
boldly  declared  to  a  hostile  gathering  of  rulers 
and  elders  and  scribes  and  priests,  that  in  none 
other  than  Jesus  Christ  of  Nazareth,  whom  they 
crucified,  is  there  salvation  :  for  neither,  he  said, 
is  there  an}'  other  name  under  heaven,  that  is 
given  among  men,  wherein  we  must  be  saved. 
This  swept  away  the  whole  Jewish  ritual,  and 
brought  Christianity  to  the  front  for  Jew  and 
Gentile  alike.  Paul,  writing  to  the  Romans  the 
truth  which  he  had  intrepidly  preached  in  all 
his  missionary  tours,  in  the  foremost  cities  of 
civilization,  declared,  "  God  commendeth  His 
own  love  toward  us,  in  that,  while  we  were  yet 
sinners,  Christ  died  for  us."  John  also  urges 
the  same  thing  in  his  first  epistle  :  *'  Herein  was 
the  love  of  God  manifested  in  us  (in  our  case), 
that  God  hath  sent  his  only  begotten  Son  into 
the  world,  that  we  might  live  through  him." 
Peter,  in  his  first  epistle,  also  says,  "Ye  were 
redeemed  with  precious  blood,  as  of  a  lamb 
without  blemish  and  without  spot,  even  the 
blood  of  Christ."  The  testimony  of  the  whole 
word  is,  therefore,  most  emphatic  on  this  point, 


84  THE   MODEL   LIFE. 

that,  whatever  subsidiary  objects  were  in  view, 
the  preponderating  purpose  of  Christ's  coming 
was  the  salvation  of  men  by  His  death  for  them. 

The  reason  for  this,  and  the  necessity  of  it, 
lay  in  the  fact  that  men  are  lost.  We  may  not 
like  to  think  so:  but  that  is  God's  thought. 
We  may  prefer  to  believe  that  we  are  unfoitun- 
ate,  unhappy  perhaps,  somewhat  perverse  ;  but 
the  divine  estimate  is,  that  we  are  lost. 

There  are  two  conditions  into  which  this  life 
issues,  and  there  are  no  others :  one  is  a  con- 
dition of  eternal  blessedness  :  the  other  is  a  con- 
dition of  eternal  wretchedness.  Those  eternal 
states  depend  on  conduct  and  character  in  this 
life.  In  fact,  life,  as  to  that  which  is  real  and 
essential,  is  one.  It  is  not  interrupted,  in  its 
essentiality,  in  that  which  makes  it  what  it  is,  by 
the  circumstance  of  death  :  but  is  only  removed 
from  one  place  to  another.  It  is  no  more  inter- 
rupted by  crossing  what  is  sometimes  called  the 
stream  of  death,  than  it  is  by  crossing  the  sea 
from  one  land  to  another,  by  passing  across 
the  territorial  boundary  which  separates 
one  country  from  another.  The  landscape  is 
changed  :  the  social  conditions  are  changed  :  but 
the  man  remains  the  same.  So  man  continues  to 
be  what  he  is  when  he  crosses  the  boundary 
which  separates  mortalitv  from  immortality. 
His  surroundings  are  different,  his  opportun- 
ities are  different,  his  associates  may  be  different: 
he  is  in  another  world.     But  himself  is  the  same. 


CHRIST   THK    SAVIOUR    OF    MEN.  85 

The  old  name  would  call  him.  The  old  traits 
characterize  him.  And  if  he  were  to  come  back 
he  would  have  the  old  personality. 

Our  Lord,  in  His  teaching,  makes  much  of  this 
fact.  He  solemnly  teaches,  that  when  the  Son 
of  Man  shall  come  in  the  glory  of  His  father, 
with  a  retinue  of  angels,  that  He  will  render 
unto  every  man  according  to  his  deeds.  He 
teaches  that  we  enter  now  a  narrow  gate  which 
leads  unto  life,  or  we  enter  a  wide  gate  which 
leads  to  destruction.  He  leaches  that  by  the 
course  we  now  take  we  can  lose  our  life,  or 
we  can  find  it.  He  teaches  that  it  is  better  to 
cut  ofi  a  hand  or  a  foot,  or  to  cast  out  an 
eye,  if  such  a  member  hinders  us  from  entering 
into  life,  rather  than  to  go  into  hell  unmaimed. 
He  teaches  that  our  fidelity  here  to  the  trusts 
that  God  has  given  us  will  insure  great  rewards 
in  the  future,  like  authority  over  many  cities, 
and  that  our  unfaithfulness  in  that  which  is  now 
intrusted  to  us  will  determine  our  loss  and 
poverty  hereafter.  And  with  this  all  Scripture 
agrees. 

Inasmuch,  therefore,  as  souls  are  lost  who  pass 
over  the  boundary  of  time  into  the  changeless 
conditions  of  eternity  without  having  secured 
salvation,  and  since  the  real  life,  which  is  based 
on  character,  there  and  here,  is  one,  it  is  cor- 
rectly said  that  unsaved  men  are  now  lost.  They 
are  in  that  relation  to  God  which  necessitates  ruin. 
They   are  on  the  road  which  runs  straight  into 


86  THE    MODKL    LIFE. 

hell.  They  have  begun,  and  are  continuing,  a 
sinful  career,  whose  legitimate  end  is  eternal 
death.  As  they  will  be  without  God  and  with- 
out hope  who  enter  eternity  with  the  guilt  of 
their  sin  on  them,  so  now  they  who  are  in  the 
state  of  sin  are  said  to  be  without  G^  d  and  with- 
out hope.  On  both  sides  of  the  line  impenitence 
and  guilt  are  characterized  by  the  same  terms. 
Christ  teaches  that  the  life  is  forfeited  on  this 
side  of  the  line.  Here  and  now  the  ultimate  de- 
cision is  made.  One  distinction  only  exists :  in 
this  world  there  is  hope;  in  that  world  there  is 
only  despair.  Here  there  is  hope  because  the 
Son  of  man  is  here  to  seek  and  to  save  that  which 
was  lost.  There,  is  onl)'  despair  because  there  is 
no  Saviour  there.  Christ's  recovering  work  is 
fortliis  world  onl3\  Now  men  may  come  out  of 
their  thraldom  into  sweet  liberty.  Now  the 
bondslave  of  sin  ma}^  become  the  free  servant 
of  tiie  Lord  Jesus.  Now  the  lost  may  be  recov- 
ered and  saved. 

And  this,  superlatively,  is  the  purpose  of 
Christ's  coming.  It  crowds  everything  else  into 
the  background.  On  the  front  of  the  pictorial 
representation  of  Christ's  work  stands  the  Cross: 
back  of  it  is  the  lowly  manger  and  the  home  and 
shop  at  Nazareth  :  back  of  it  is  the  form  of  the 
teacher  with  the  mighty  multitudes  hanging  on 
His  words  of  lift  ;  back  of  it  are  his  miracles  of 
mercy  ;  blind  men  opening  their  eyes  on  a  new 
world  ;  deaf  men  listening  to  the  music  which  has 


CHRIST   THE    SAVIOUR    OF    MKN.  87 

never  before  thrilled  them  ;  dumb  men  singing 
for  joy  to  the  praise  of  their  Healer  ;  the  sick 
rising  to  duty  in  perfect  health,  the  lepers  clean 
in  body  and  in  soul,  the  dead  happy  in  their  re- 
stored life  and  the  demoniacs  cleared  of  their  foul 
and  base  possessions.  But,  brilliant  with  its  sug- 
gestive meanings,  filling  the  whole  picture  with 
its  light  and  glory,  standing  as  in  memorial  of  a 
rescued  world,  hope  of  the  lost  and  joy  of  the 
saved,  is  the  Cross  on  which  the  Redeemer  died  ! 
His  sufferings  were  for  our  salvation.  His  death 
was  for  our  life. 

It  was  a  favorite  symbol  of  the  early  church 
which  represented  the  Saviour  as  a  shepherd 
bringing  home,  on  his  shoulder,  from  the  peril- 
ous wilderness,  the  lost  sheep  which  he  had 
sought  and  found.  Christian  song  has  celebrated 
with  tender  terms  this  representation  of  the 
work  of  Christ.  It  is  suggested  by  his  own 
words,  in  which  He  presents  the  divine  love 
under  the  image  of  a  man  who  has  a  hundred 
sheep,  one  of  which  has  gone  astray,  who 
leaves  the  ninety-and-nine  and  goes  unto  the 
mountains  and  seeks  that  which  is  astray  until 
he  finds  it,  when  he  rejoices  more  over  it  than 
over  the  ninety-and-nine  that  went  not  astray, 
and  he  says  to  his  friends  and  neighbors,  rejoice 
with  me,  for  I  have  found  my  sheep  which  was 
lost. 

We  have  from  Christ's  lips,  also,  the  represen- 
tation of  a  woman  who  lost  one  of  ten  pieces  of 


SS  lllli    MOIJEL    I.IFli. 


silver  wliicli  she  had,  who  lit  a  lamp,  and  swept 
the  house  and  sought  diligently  until  she  found 
it,  and  then  called  in  her  friends  and  neighbors 
to  rejoice  with  her  because  she  had  found  the 
piece  which  she  had  lost.  We  hear  also  from 
Him  the  story  of  the  prodigal  son,  which  has 
moved  men  of  all  tongues  by  its  inimitable  pa- 
thos, which  is  concluded  by  those  affecting  words 
of  the  father,  "  It  was  meet  to  make  merry  and 
be  glad  :  for  this  thy  brother  was  dead,  and  is 
alive  again  ;  and  was  lost,  and  is  found."  By  all 
symbols,  through  all  figurative  forms,  we  are 
brought  face  to  face  with  a  race  of  lost  men  and 
with  the  Lord  coming  in  mercy  and  by  infinite 
service  to  seek  and  to  find  them.  He  came  not 
to  call  the  righteous,  but  sinners.  It  was  not 
His  will,  nor  the  will  of  His  Father,  that  any 
should  perish.  His  whole  life-work  found  its 
fullest  expression  in  the  word.  Salvation. 

Was  it  necessary  for  this  that  He  should  hum- 
ble Himself?  He  went  down  to  the  lowest 
place.  Was  it  necessary  for  this  that  He  should 
suffer?  He  not  only  humbled  Himself  but  He 
became  obedient  unto  death,  even  the  death  of 
the  cross.  From  lowly  Bethlehem  to  mournful 
Calvary  was  a  long  pilgrimage  of  atonement. 
Bursting  from  heaven  in  their  absorbing  won- 
der, angel  hosts  filled  the  mountain  air  with  their 
exulting  gloria,  as  they  announced  to  the  aston- 
ished shepherds,  "  there  is  born  to  you  this  day 
a  Saviour,  who  is  Ciirist  the  Lord." 


CHRIST   THE    SAVIOUR    OF    MEN.  89 

Following  the  suggestion  of  the  angels,  the 
adoring  shepherds  found  the  wonderful  babe, 
and  returned  glorifying  and  praising  God  for  all 
the  things  that  they  had  heard  and  seen.  Magi 
from  the  Orient,  guided  by  a  phenomenal  star, 
came  to  this  new  Light,  even  to  the  brightness 
of  its  rising,  bringing,  with  reverence  to  the 
Child,  their  gifts  for  kings,  gold  and  frankin- 
cense and  myrrh.  Heaven  and  earth  alike  were 
moved  by  this  advent  to  the  sinful  world  of  One 
who  had  come  from  the  supernal  glory.  When 
the  boy  Jesus  was  twelve  3'ears  of  age.  His  par- 
ents found  Him  in  the  temple,  sitting  in  the 
midst  of  the  doctors,  who  were  amazed  at  His 
understanding  and  answers  ;  and  to  their  won- 
dering inquiry,  why  it  was,  He  replied,  with  a 
revelation  of  His  divine  origin,  that  it  was  for 
Him  to  be  engaged  in  the  things  of  His  Father. 
Since,  however.  He  must  know  our  life,  in  order 
that  He  might  be  its  complete  deliverer.  He 
lived  at  Nazareth,  and  was  subject  to  His  par- 
ents, and  was  occupied  up  to  full  manhood  in 
the  avocation  of  His  reputed  father.  So,  too, 
that  He  might  fulfill  all  righteousness.  He  was 
baptized  of  John,  was  driven  of  the  Spirit  to  the 
long  fast  of  the  lonely  wilderness,  and  met  the 
tempter  in  a  three-fold  trial  and  with  a  three- 
fold victory  ;  and  thus  having  suffered  being 
tempted  He  can  be  touched  with  the  feeling  of 
our  infirmities  and  is  able  to  succor  them  that 
are  tempted. 


90  THE   MODEL    LIFE. 

From  the  walks  and  occupations  of  ordinary 
life,  men,  whom  He  selected  with  divine  insight, 
and  whom  He  impressed  by  the  peculiar  grace 
and  majesty  of  His  person,  left  all  and  followed 
Him.  And  then  came  His  short  and  eventful 
public  life,  crowded  with  impressive  incidents, 
and  ineffaceable  on  the  spiritual  records  of  the 
race.  Miracle  followed  miracle  in  attestation  of 
His  divine  power  and  sympathy  and  love.  A 
greater  than  any  of  the  prophets  or  wise  men  of 
old  was  there.  In  His  voice  nature  recognized 
the  voice  of  its  Creator.  Its  limpid  water 
turned  into  exhilarating  wine  at  His  word. 
The  wild  sea,  tossed  in  tumult,  heard  His  com- 
mand, "Peace,  be  still!"  and  mirrored  on  its 
placid  bosom  the  twinkle  of  over-revolving  stars- 
Disease  disappeared  at  His  more  than' magnetic 
touch.  Health  flowed  like  a  blessed  river  with 
trees  of  life  on  its  luxuriant  banks  where  He 
dwelt  with  men.  Whole  cities  and  wide  re- 
gions felt  the  restoring  power  and  the  healing 
grace  of  His  beneficent  presence.  Even  death, 
at  His  call,  gave  back  its  prisoner  to  life. 

Memorable  were  His  discourses  to  the  vast 
multitudes  who  followed  Him  wherever  He 
went.  Speaking  to  their  famished  soids,  hungry 
for  spiritual  nourishment,  He  told  them  that  He 
was  the  Bread  of  Life,  heaven-given,  more  to 
them  than  the  manna  was  to  their  starving  fathers 
in  the  Arabian  deserts.  He  told  them  that  He 
was  the  Water  of  Life,  of  which  if  they  should 


CRRIST    THE    SAVIOUR   OF   MEN.  91 

drink  they  would  never  thirst  again.  He  brought 
heaven  to  them,  so  that  here,  as  there,  redeemed 
souls  should  hunger  no  more,  neither  thirst  any 
more.  He  told  them  that  He  was  the  Light  of 
the  World  :  that,  as  in  the  festal  illumination  of 
the  Temple  the  people  and  the  priests  rejoiced 
with  music  and  dances,  so,  following  and  loving 
Him,  they  might  walk  in  heavenly  light,  even  as 
the  nations  of  the  saved  in  that  city  which  has 
no  need  of  the  sun,  neither  of  the  moon  to  shine 
upon  it :  for  the  glory  of  God  does  lighten  it,  and 
the  lamp  thereof  is  the  Lamb.  He  revealed  to 
them  His  equality  with  the  Father:  He  opened 
the  doors  of  the  eternal  worlds  :  He  wept  over 
the  people  who  were  miserably  to  perish  in  the 
woes  whose  blackened  clouds  were  already  low- 
ering :  He  rejoiced  in  spirit  that  though  His  mes- 
sage were  hidden  from  the  wise  and  prudent,  it 
was  heralded  unto  babes ;  and  that  He  could 
sound  forth  the  call  of  divine  merc}^  "  Come  unto 
me  ;  and  ye  shall  find  rest  unto  3'our  souls."  All 
this,  wonderful  in  deed  and  in  word,  led  on  to 
the  tiagic  event,  to  the  supreme  sacrifice,  to 
Gethsemane's  agony  and  Calvary's  death  of  min- 
gled terror  and  triumph. 

Alone,  the  divine  Victim,  the  Lamb  that  was 
slain  for  our  sins,  endured  an  anguish  of  body 
and  of  mind  of  which  we  can  form  no  conception 
and  of  which  there  is  no  parallel.  It  was  more 
than  He  could  bear.  The  weight  of  our  sins,  the 
awful  burden  of  our  guilt,  crushed  Him   to  the 


92  THE    MODKL    LIFE 

Earth.  His  cries  of  agony  rent  the  stillness  of 
that  darkest  midnight.  His  poor  body  was  lorn 
with  the  torture  of  His  1  icerated  spirit,  and  His 
sweat  became  as  it  were  great  drops  of  blood 
falling  down  upon  the  ground.  His  prayer,  with 
strong  crying  and  tears,  went  up  to  God,  His 
beloved  Father,  with  whom  all  things  are  possi- 
ble, but  who  could  not  take  away  that  dreadful 
cup  from  Him.  The  Cross  was  still  before  Him, 
with  its  heavier  woe,  with  its  renewed  agony, 
with  the  hiding  of  His  Father's  face,  with  its  pub- 
lic infamy  and  its  personal  anguish,  on  which  He 
expressed  His  boundless  pity  and  forgiveness  for 
men,  and  commended  His  spirit  to  His  Father, 
His  great  work  forever  Finished.  For  the  Son 
of  man  came  to  seek  and  to  save  that  which  was 
lost. 


VIII. 


THE   INDWELLING   CHRIST. 


ITH  mystic  monosyllables  was  ended  the 
siiblimest  and  tenderest  prayer  that  ever 
31  r(^se  from  earth  to  heaven  :  the  prayer 
of  our  dear  Lord  for  all  His  followers.  Spener, 
near  death,  caused  this  prayer  to  be  read  aloud 
to  him  three  times  :  he  had  never  ventured  to 
preach  upon  it,  because  he  thought  the  under- 
standing of  it  went  be3^ond  the  faith  which  the 
Lord  is  wont  to  impart  to  His  disciples. 

Yet  tills  prayer  was  for  us  :  and  reverently  we 
may  draw  near  to  the  divine  oratory,  listening 
and  learning,  as  we  hear  the  Christ,  in  the  full- 
ness of  His  infinite  affection,  say,  in  the  earnest 
language  of  a  suppliant:  "I  pray  for  them: 
I  will  that  they  also  be  with  me  where  I  am: 
I  pray  that  they  all  may  be  one  as  thou, 
Father,  art  in  me  and  I  in  thee,  that  they 
also  may  be  one  in  us.  I  in  them  and  thou  in 
me,  that  the}^  may  be  made  perfect  in  one." 

You  will  notice  that  after  the  concluding  sen- 
tence, "  that  the  love  wherewith  thou  hast  loved 
me  may  be  in  them,"  as  though  His  loving  heart 

[93] 


04  THE   MODEL   LIFE. 

dwelt  in  an  affectionateiiess  that  could  not  allow 
Ilim  to  be  sundered  from  them,  He  adds  still 
these  last   words,    "  And   I   in  them." 

As  a  German  commentator  remarks,  "The 
last  zvord  of  alii  after  the  last,  is,  "  /  in  t/uin." 
Says  another,  "  This  is  the  last  and  most  ap- 
proved word  of  this  sublime  prayer."  And 
another  remarks,  "  It  is  a  better  seal  than  any 
doxology  or  amen."  I  do  not  know  what  it  means. 
I  do  not  suppose  we  can  understand  the  fullness 
of  its  infinite  meanings.  We  can  take  something 
of  it  superficially  ;  but  its  interior  and  profounder 
contents  are  not  a  thing  of  theory  or  statement  but 
of  solemn  experience.  We  can  go  down  into  them 
only  as  the  Lord  takes  us  down  ;  onl}-  as  He  re- 
veals Himself  to  us  as  an  indwelling  person  and 
presence  !  It  is  not  a  philosophy  that  we  want, 
but  a  revelation  :  not  an  exegesis,  but  an  experi- 
ence :  not  logic,  but  life  :  not  a  Christology,  but 
Christ.  Christ  in  us  :  the  infinite  in  the  finite  :  the 
God  in  the  temple  of  God  :  the  greater  in  the 
less:  this  is  the  reversal  of  our  dynamics,  the  ab- 
rogation of  our  human  axioms.  On  the  surface, 
it  means,  that  the  Lord  is  in  all  believers  with  the 
fullness  of  His  love  and  the  Father's  love;  that 
He  is  in  them  by  His  doctrines,  teaching  them 
of  Himself  and  of  His  Kingdom,  and  by  His 
Spirit  who  shows  to  them  the  things  of  Himself: 
and  so  all  the  commentators  explain  it.  But  it 
means  more,  far  more,  than  this,  "  Thou  in  me 
and  I  in  thee,  and  I  in  them  :  "  here  is  the  trinity 


tUK     INDWELLING    CHRIST.  95 

of  relations  out  of  which  comes  both  the  unity 
of  believers  with  one  another  and  their  higher 
and  more  mysterious  unity  with  the  Father  and 
the  Son  :  "  That  they  all  may  be  one  and  that 
they  also  may  be  one  in  us."  Christ  in  the  saint 
brings  the  saint  into  God.  So  the  human,  be- 
comes the  partaker  of  the  divine,  nature.  God 
in  us  and  we  in  God  are  the  relations  of  the 
supernatural  life.  How  far  the  realization  of  this 
mysterious  unity  affects  personality,  how  fully  it 
is  comprehended  in  the  conditions  of  mortal 
life,  what  may  remain  for  its  perfectibility  in  the 
future  experience,  we  may  not  be  able  to  state. 
That  there  is  a  life  in  this  world  which  though 
essentially  human  is  also  essentially  divine  we 
may  not  doubt.  That  there  is  a  life  beyond  which 
rises  into  higher  and  more  perfect  degrees  of 
this  blessed  unity  we  may  well  believe  ;  although 
"it  doth  not  yet  appear  what  we  shall  be,  but  we 
know  that  when  He  shall  appear,  we  shall  be 
like  Him  ;  for  we  shall  see  Him  as  He  is."  The 
life  in  this  world  runs  into  the  life  beyond. 
Heie  it  is  begun  ;  there  it  is  perfected.  But  it 
is  one.  The  union  of  the  Saviour  and  the  be- 
liever is  one  on  earth  and  in  heaven. 

Leaving  the  more  sacred  and  subtle  mysteries 
of  the  theme,  we  may  look  at  it  outwardly  and 
relatively  and  get  inspiration  in  it  for  our  tasks 
and  comfort  in  it  for  our  trials. 

Man  needs  some  greater  one  in  him.  We  are 
all  controlled  by  some  indwelling  {principle,  pas- 


96  THE    MODEL    LIFE. 

sioii,  person.  We  do  not  barely  live  our  own 
life,  which  would  be  a  bare  life,  if  we  should 
attempt  it.  Even  those  who  affect  solitariness 
are  under  the  mastery  of  an  overpowering^  prin- 
ciple orai-e  in  slavehoodto  an  imperious  passion  ; 
their  seclusion  does  not  place  them  alone.  From 
the  world  which  they  claim  to  have  left,  along 
the  highways  of  memory  or  desire  or  remorse, 
troop  in  upon  them  influences  which  they  can 
shut  out  by  no  blockade  or  isolation.  They  have 
carried  in  with  them  themselves,  with  the  hearts 
tliey  had,  with  the  intellectual  progress  they  had 
made,  with  the  masterful  will  owning  no  subjec- 
tion. And  although  they  may  hide  themselves 
from  men  and  may  see  no  longer  their  old  asso- 
ciates, still  are  they  united  by  unseen  influences, 
powers  that  work  through  thoughts  and  unob- 
structed affections.  Man  is  never  less  alone  than 
when  alone.  The  unpeopled  spaces  are  crowded 
with  being.  Few  can  be  with  us  in  bodily  form, 
but  spirits,  which  take  no  space,  can  thrcing  to 
us  in  innumerable  companies.  The  withdrawal 
from  men,  therefore,  may  be  the  entrance  to  great 
assemblies.  The  lone  watcher  on  the  solitary 
column,  the  solitary  hermit  in  the  wilderness,  the 
devotee  in  his  thick-walled  cell,  may  be  thronged 
by  those  whom  his  bodily  eye  may  not  discern 
but  whom  his  spiritual  senses  recognize. 

Most  men  in  the  world,  are  controlled  by 
sordid  passions  or  low  running  ambitions.  Their 
possessions  are  of  inferior  spirits.     That  in  them 


THE     INDWELLING    CHRIST.  97 

which  gives  significance  to  their  life  is  far  below 
the  claim  of  their  immortality.  They  are  pushed 
on  by  the  passion  for  pelf :  as  though  it  were  a 
great  object  to  get  property  whose  title  must  be 
vacated  in  a  few  days:  to  heap  up  riches  for 
other  parties  soon  to  gather  or  to  scatter :  to 
hold  broad  acres  of  that  a  few  feet  of  which  will 
soon  hold  themselves.  Or  they  are  ambitious  for 
place  out  of  which  they  will  be  crowded  before 
they  are  fairly  seated  in  it:  for  power  which 
their  unsteady  or  palsied  hands  can  retain  but 
for  a  little  while  :  for  honor  which  will  die  away 
almost  as  soon  as  the  huzzas  which  have  hailed 
it.  For  these  lowest  worldly,  perishable  things, 
of  one  sort  and  another,  the  whole  being  is 
aglow  and  in  struggle.  The  immortal  devotes 
himself,  with  his  fine  possibilities,  to  that  which 
is  impossible.  Try  as  he  will,  he  cannot  be  sat- 
isfied with  that  which  is  merely  worldly.  Suc- 
ceed as  he  may,  he  cannot  find  gratification  in 
that  which  has  no  permanence. 

Yet  on  these  levels  the  race  is  run.  The  world 
only  is  in  men.  It  possesses  them.  It  absorbs 
their  being.  Some  move  to  higher  moods. 
They  would  find  gratification  in  noble  sentiments. 
The  intellectual  life  is  absorbing.  Says  one, 
"  Be  sure  that  there  has  been  great  moral  strength 
in  all  who  have  come  to  intellectual  greatness. 
During  some  brief  moments  of  insight  the  mist 
has  rolled  away,  and  they  have  beheld  like  a 
Celestial  City,  the  hc^me  of  their  highest  aspira- 


98  THE    MODEL    LIFE. 

tions  ;  but  the  cloud  has  gathered  round  them 
again  and  still  in  the  gloom  they  have  gone  stead- 
ily forward,  stumbling  often,  yet  maintaining 
their  unconquerable  resolution.  It  is  to  this  sub- 
lime persistence  of  tiie  intellectual  in  other  ages 
that  the  world  owes  the  treasures  which  they 
won.  Their  intellectual  purposes  did  not  break 
their  moral  nature,  but  exercised  and  exalted  it. 
All  that  was  best  and  highest  in  the  imperfect 
moral  nature  of  Giordano  Bruno  had  its  source 
in  that  noble  passion  for  Philosophy,  which  made 
him  declare  that  for  her  sake  it  was  easy  to  en- 
dure labor  and  pain  and  exile,  since  he  had  found 
in  brief  labor  lasting  rest,  in  light  grief 
boundless  joy,  in  contracted  exile  broadest 
country."  Humboldt  sold  his  inheritance  that 
he  might  pursue  in  remote  fields  his  studies  of 
nature.  Kane  consecrated  his  mature  life  to 
unlock  the  mystery  of  the  Arctic  zone.  Faraday 
renounced  certain  fortune  for  the  results  of 
uncertain  discovery.  Livingstone  passed  out  of 
sight  that  he  might  solve  the  unknown  problem 
in  the  heart  of  i\frica.  Patriots  have  given  all 
to  country.  In  men  have  lived  and  worked 
great  and  worthy  jjrinciples  to  the  subjection 
and  absorption  of  their  entire  nature.  Them- 
selves have  been  but  the  agents  of  something 
mighter  than  themselves,  wliich  has  possessed 
and  controlled  them.  Sublime  ambition,  lofty 
work,  worthy  service,  have  supplanted  all  selfish 


THE     INDWELLING   CHRIST.  99 

passions  and  worked  in  the  new  man  with  sole 
control. 

Sometimes  another  man  has  been  in  them. 
They  have  lived  a  life  not  their  own  but  this 
other's.  The  familiar  incident  of  the  wounded 
French  soldier  illustrates  this,  who  said  to  his 
surgeon  probing-  and  cutting  in  his  breast,  "  Cut 
a  little  deeper  and  you  will  find  the  emperor." 
There  was  a  magic  about  the  emperor  which 
swayed  his  soldiers.  They  were  emptied  of 
themselves  and  he  lived  in  them.  To  accom- 
plish his  designs  and  not  their  own  was  all  their 
soldiery.  The  great  emperor  marched  in  them 
on  long  marches,  endured  in  them  in  great  pri- 
vations, toiled  in  them  over  snowy  Alps,  charged 
in  them  in  the  bloody  charge,  exulted  in  them 
in  magnificent  victories,  and  when  they  came  to 
die,  in  their  heart  of  hearts  was  enshrined  the 
emperor  himself.  Forty  years  after  his  death, 
four  thousand  miles  from  his  tomb,  I  met  an 
aged  conscript  of  the  immortal  emperor.  He 
was  broken  and  bowed,  and  all  the  forces  of  his 
life  had  retreated  ;  but  at  the  name  and  mention 
of  the  great  commander  he  rose  erect  as  a  gren- 
adier of  France,  and  the  fire  of  the  unconquera- 
ble guard  burned  within  him  and  he  would  have 
marched  again  to  Moscow  at  a  signal  from  his 
dead  captain,  who,  though  his  body  la}^  in  the 
vault  of  the  Invalides,  lived  in  the  soul  of  the 
soldier. 

Here  we  come  near  to  that  which  is  practical 


100  THK    MODEL    LIFE. 

in  our  Saviour's  service.  It  cannot  be  doubted 
that  there  have  been  and  are  great  numbers  in 
whoni  He  lias  lived  as  the  controller  of  their  life 
and  their  destiny.  Their  most  absorbing  thought 
has  been  the  thcjught  of  Him.  Their  stiongest 
and  purest  and  most  vital  affections  have  been 
for  Him.  Their  intensest  purpose  has  cen- 
tralized in  Ilim.  Their  being  has  been  blended 
in  His  being.  He  has  lived  in  all  their  life  and 
vitalized  everything  that  has  remained  in  them 
and  has  proceeded  from  them.  This  is  putting 
tiie  case  strongly  :  and  ycju  may  feel  rather  too 
strongly  for  an}-  experience  that  you  have 
known.  But  it  is  not  more  strongly  put  than 
the  testimony  of  the  individuals  themselves,  n(jr 
than  their  lives  wariant.  This  prayer  of  the 
Master  came  to  quick  and  marvelous  answering  ! 
No  sooner  was  His  life  ended  than  it  pissed  into 
His  followers,  it  was  re-lived  in  them.  They, 
with  sublime  devotion,  entered  into  that  which 
remained  of  His  work.  He  was  t(^  them  more 
than  themselves.  They  were  dead.  He  lived  in 
them.  Said  one  of  them,  the  greatest  perhaps 
of  all  in  his  devotion  and  service,"  1  am  crucified 
with  Christ  :  nevertheless  I  live;  yet  not  I,  but 
Christ  liveth  in  me:  and  the  life  which  I  now 
live  in  the  flesh,  I  live  by  the  faith  of  the  Son 
of  God,  who  loved  me  and  gave  Himself  for 
me."  As  to  his  own  and  old  personality  he  was 
dead.  The  fiery  student  in  the  schools  of  Jewish 
law,  the  bold   contestant  of  Pharisaic  formulas, 


THE   Indwelling  ciiRisT.  lOl 

the  wild  persecutor  of  every  alien  faith,  was  no 
more.  Saul,  who  came  with  his  hot  blood  from 
Tarsus  and  issued  a  zealot  from  the  school  of 
Gamaliel  in  Jerusalem,  was  dead.  But  Paul 
lived,  yet  not  Paul,  but  Christ  lived  in  him.  A 
divine  power  wrought  in  that  great  Apostle  of 
Christianity.  His  splendid  intellect,  which  grap- 
pled with  theprofoundest  questions  of  philosophy 
and  theology,  was  taught  of  God.  His  sublime 
eloquence,  which  over-matched  the  oratory  of 
Rome  and  on  the  Areopagus  riveted  his  Athenian 
hearers,  and  roused  men  in  every  place  where 
he  spoke,  was  from  the  divine  Spirit  who  spoke 
in  him.  The  generous  and  noble  and  self  deny- 
ing qualities  which  characterized  him  in  all  the 
relations  of  his  life,  which  made  him  so  kind  a 
friend,  so  sweet  a  comforter,  so  opulent  a  bene- 
factor, so  patriotic  a  citizen,  so  magnanimous  a 
foe,  so  mighty  a  champion,  were  all  the  work  of 
God  in  him.  It  was  the  divine  energy  within 
him  which  made  him  first  the  Apostle  to  his  own 
people  and  then  the  Apostle  to  the  Gentiles,  so 
that  he  visited  the  cities  of  Syria,  and  went  over 
into  Macedonia,  and  sailed  along  the  capes  of 
the  Grecian  Sea,  and  stood  under  the  shadow  of 
the  Acropolis,  and  maintained  the  simplicity  of 
the  gospel  in  voluptuous  Coi  inth  and,  by  tempes- 
tuous seas,  made  his  way  to  imperial  Rome.  It 
was  by  an  inspired  pen  that  he  wrote  his  living 
epistles,  of  which  Luther  said,  "  His  words  are 
not  dearl  words,  they  are  living  creatures  with 


10'2  tHE   MODKL    LIlTE. 

hands  and  feet."  His  whole  life,  so  full  and  rich 
and  blessed,  with  memorials  in  so  many  import- 
ant places  where  he  himself  was  seen,  and  in  so 
many  other  places  where  he  himself  was  never 
seen,  was  the  Lord's  life  in  him.  Nothing-  could 
separate  him  from  the  love  of  Christ.  Because 
Christ  was  in  him  his  spirit  was  life.  And  his 
desire  for  his  beloved  disciples  was  that  "  Christ 
might  dwell  in  their  hearts  by  faith  :"  and  that 
they  might  be  "  complete  in  Mini." 

This  wonderful  Apostle  has  had  his  successors. 
The  same  cause  has  led  to  the  same  devotion. 
Christ  has  lived  on  in  imperishable  being  in  those 
who  have  given  themselves  to  Him.  Many  a 
lowly  life  has  been  glorified  by  flis  being  in  it. 
Tlie  missionary  records  aref^illofthe  devotion  ivhich 
He  lias  inspired.  Friends,  home,  country,  civiliz- 
ation, honors,  have  been  freely  sacrificed  and  left. 
Another  life.  His  life,  has  taken  the  place  of  the 
man's  own. 

This  is  what  we  want.  We  want  Christ  in  us. 
If  the  world  is  in  us,  or  if  we  have  only  ourselves 
in  us,  we  are  in  great  want.  The  author  of  Rob- 
ert Falconer  writes  :  "  Our  hearts  cry  out,  to 
have  God  is  to  live.  We  want  God.  Without 
Him  no  life  of  ours  is  worth  living.  We  are  not 
then  even  human,  for  that  is  but  the  lower  fc^rm 
of  the  divine.  We  are  immortal,  eternal;  fill  us, 
O  Father,  with  thyself.       Then  only  all  is  well." 

It  is  the  glory  of  the  Redeemer  to  dwell  in  the 
redeemed.     His  work    is   not  fulfilled   until    we 


THE     INDWELIJNG    CHRIST.  103 

abide  in  Him  and  He  in  us.  He  has  come  not 
only  to  free  us  from  sin  but  to  impart  unto  us 
Himself.  He  seeks  to  make  His  abode  with  us 
and  to  make  us  temples  of  Himself.  He  invites 
us  to  partake  of  Him  :  "  He  that  eateth  my  flesh 
and  drinketh  my  blood,  dwelleth  in  me  and  I  in 
him.  "  His  honor  is  concerned  in  the  fulfillment 
of  His  work.  Regeneration,  to  be  perfect,  not 
only  casts  rnit  the  old  possessions  of  the  mind,  but 
it  enthrones  Christ  there,  and  keeps  Him  there. 
Lord  of  all.     He  should  have  his    rightful  place. 

And  as  it  is  His  glory  to  dwell  in  them,  so  it  is 
their  glory  to  have  Him.  It  is  the  chief  glory 
of  man.  All  other  glories  of  the  earth,  of  the 
universe,  arc  pale  by  the  side  of  this.  There  is 
glory  in  a  crozvn  which  has  been  worn  by  great 
nionarchs:  and  in  a  throne  which  has  stood  for 
centuries  :  and  in  honors  which  come  from  old 
universities  and  from  grateful  peoples.  But  the 
glory  of  having  the  Lord  of  glory  within  one, 
surpasses  all  other  glories.  There  is  honor  in 
entertaining  a  prince  or  a  great  scholar  or  a  noble 
citizen  :  but  this  honor  is  given  to  His  saints  to 
entertain  the  Lord  Himself.  "  Abide  in  me  and 
I  in  you." 

Here  is  inspiration  for  service.  Not  to  live 
out  our  lives,  but  to  live  out  His  life  who  liveth 
in  us  ;  not  to  honor  ourselves,  but  to  honor  Him 
who  is  worthy  of  the  praise  and  glory  of  the  uni- 
verse :  not  to  serve  an}'  inferior  being,  but  to  serve 
and  please  Him  who  is  superior  to  all  other  beings, 


104  THE   MODEL    LIFE. 

to  whom  we  owe  all  that  wc  can  do,  all  that  we 
can  love,  ourselves  ;  herein  is  motive  sufficient 
to  stir  all  our  nature.  It  has  proved  sufficient. 
In  all  the  Christian  ages  the  succession  of  true 
and  toiling  disciples  has  been  preserved,  apostles, 
confessors,  martyrs,  reformers,  saints,  in  ever}^ 
land  and  in  every  speech,  and  the}'  have  all 
maintained  with  unanimous  testimony  that  their 
inspiration  has  come  from  the  same  infinite  source, 
tlieir  common  confession  has  everywhere  been  : 
"  Yet  not  I,  but  Christ  livclli  in  me." 

Furtherm(3re,  the  power  of  the  Church  over 
the  world  must  come  through  the  disciples  from 
the  indwelling  Christ.  It  is  not  they  who  have 
power.  They  receive  it.  It  works  through 
them  :  but  it  comes  from  a  higher  cause.  It  is  a 
divine  power.  It  is  Christ  who  is  to  subjugate 
the  world.  But  the  world  cannot  see  Him.  It 
can  only  see  those  in  whom  He  dwells.  But  it 
can  see  them  and  it  can  feel  the  influence  of  his 
divine  life  in  them.  They  may  be  feeble  and  un- 
worthy to  represent  His  amazing  love.  Yet  are 
they  His  witnesses:  they  stand  for  Him  before 
the  world.  They  are,  in  their  i)urc  and  conse- 
crated lives,  to  set  forth  His  life,  in  their  gen- 
erous and  sympathizing  love  to  icproduce  His 
love,  in  their  humble  places  and  in  their  lowly 
service,  and  with  their  feeble  powers  to  make 
Christ  known  as  the  living,  loving,  perfect 
Saviour. 

Ill  the  grand  old  capital  of   Normandy,  rich  in 


THE     INDWELLING    CHRIST.  105 

the  highly  sculptured  architecture  of  a  florid  era, 
among  imposing  civil  and  ecclesiastical  buildings, 
rises  the  magnificent  Church   of    St.  Ouen.     No 
more  gorgeous  effect   of   light  and  shadow  can 
anywhere  be  seen,  than    where  the  many-tinted 
beams  stream    through    its    elaboratel}^   painted 
windows  and  are  brought  into  positive  effect  by 
the  dark  shade  of  its  lofty  buttresses  and  towers. 
It  were   hard  for  the  eye,  at  a  single  sweep  of 
vision  to  take  in  the  sublime  view  of  its  gorgeous 
and   lofty   interior.       But  beneath    the   majestic 
nave  is   placed  a  little  font,  the  water  of  which 
you  could  almost  hold  in  your  double  hand,  so 
constructed  and  located  that  by  looking  into  it 
you  can  see  as    in  a  perfect  mirror  the  stately 
columns  and  springing  arches  and  the  deep  vault 
above,  with  the  storied   windows  and   the  holy 
altar  and  all  the  tracery   and  adornments  of  the 
sacred  edifice.     The  vast  temple  is  repiesented 
in  the  basin  of  water,     in  us  should  be  the  image 
of  the  Lord.     The  eye  that  cannot  sweep  through 
the  grandeur  of  His  character  and  the  infinitudes 
of  His  affection  and  the  depths  of   His  passion 
may  be  able  to  see  enough  of  Him  in  those  who 
love  Him  to  be  won  to  His  blessed  service,  may 
find  enough  in  them  to  awaken  admiration  and 
to  challenge  devotion.     The    heart  that  cannot 
yet  hold  so  much  as  Christ  may  comprehend  the 
lowly  who  are  Christ-like.     The  mind  that  would 
be  lost  in  the  attributes  of  the  divine  Lord  may 
seek  and  find  Him  in  the  qualities  of  His  faithful 


106  THE    MODKL    UFE. 

followers.  Let  Christ  be  in  us,  in  our  hearts,  in 
our  lives,  and  then  shall  we  be  His  consecrated 
temples.  So  may  we  bring  the  unbelieving 
world  to  the  worship  of  our  Lord.  Christ  is  in 
us  and  we  are  in  the  world  that  the  world  may 
be  saved  by  all  tliat  we  can  do  lor  it.  Christ  is 
in  us  that  we  may  be  controlled  by  Him,  and  that 
we  may  aspire  both  to  be  like  Him  here  and  to 
be  like  flim  and  with  Him  forever.  Christ  is  in 
us  that  He  may  fulfill  His  own  purpose  in  His 
chosen  and  beloved  people,  and  through  them 
His  purpose  for  a  sinful  and  lost  race. 

Come  then  into  our  hearts,  O  divine  and  be- 
loved One!  Abide  with  us  and  make  us  thy 
temples  ! 


IX. 


CHRIST  S    PRESENCE    IN  PERPLEXITY. 


HE  promise  of  Christ's  presence  is  for 
tlie  whole  Church  throughout  all  time. 
It  was,  primarily,  for  the  apostles  and 
the  five  hundred  brethren  who  were  gathered 
around  Him  on  the  mountain  from  whose  summit 
He  was  to  ascend  to  heaven,  who  were  beginning 
to  feel  the  desolateness  of  His  withdrawal  from 
them,  the  bereavement  into  which  His  departure 
would  plunge  them.  They  loved  Him  with  a 
strange  love,  unlike  the  love  which  they  had 
given  to  any  other,  and  they  wanted  Him  to 
remain  with  them  as  He  had  been,  their  Teacher 
and  their  trusted  Friend,  But  His  words 
implied  that  He  was  going  away  and  He  had  the 
upward  and  far-away  look  of  one  who  was  to 
pass  from  them  into  the  invisibilities  of  the 
heavenly  world.  So,  for  their  comfort  and 
peace,  He  united  with  His  last  commission  t(^ 
them  the  encouraging  promise;  "  Lo,  1  am  with 
you  alway,  even  unto  the  end  of  the  world." 
And  when  He  said,  even  unto  the  end  of  the 
world.  He  included  all  those  who  should  believe 
on  Him  through  their  word,  all  who  should 
succeed  them  in  the  work  of  spreading  the  gospel 

[107J 


108  THE   MODEL   LIFE. 

among  all  the  nations  of  numkind  clown  "  to  the 
last  syllable  of  recorded  time." 

It  is  therefore  His  word  of  solace  and  of  joy 
to  us,  as  it  will  be  to  those  who  shall  come  after  us. 

He  said  :  Lo,  behold,  and  rejoice  and  be  com- 
forted in  this  :  I  aui  tvith  you,  youi"  very  Friend  ; 
I  whom  you  have  known  and  loved  so  well:  / 
ajH  ever  present,  unchanging,  Immanuel  ;  ahva)\ 
all  the  days,  every  day,  in  days  of  trial,  in  days 
of  jo}',  in  days  of  gloom  and  of  sunlight,  on  not 
a  single  day  will  I  be  absent  from  you  :  even 
unto  tJic  end  of  the  li-'orld,  through  all  your  labc^rs 
for  me  and  for  my  kingdom  everywhere,  until 
you  shall  be  with  me  where  1  am  and  shall 
behold  my  glory  ! 

Blessed  assurance  to  every  Christian  !  To  the 
toilers  on  the  frontiers  of  civilization  and  to  the 
heralds  who  cry  in  the  dense  wildernesses  of 
heathenism  :  to  the  discouraged  preacher  in  the 
da^'S  of  supreme  indifference,  wh.en  the  gospel 
goes  unheeded  and  the  dreams  of  the  world  fill 
the  minds  of  thoughtless  hearers  :  to  the  bereaved 
and  lonely  children  of  God,  when  the  only  light 
is  on  the  upward  path  which  they  have  taken 
who  have  passed  into  the  glowing  gates  and 
when  they  wonder  at  the  meaning  of  those 
occurrences  which  no  philosophy  can  explain  : 
to  the  weak  because  His  strength  is  shown  to  be 
perfect  in  their  weakness,  and  to  the  strong 
because  they  are  strong  in  the  strength  which 
He  supplies  :  to  those  who  are  in  the  midst   of 


Christ's  presenck  in  perplexity.  109 

tlie  battle,  ns  to  those  who  are  lifting  up  the 
voice  of  victory:  to  the  living  in  all  conditions 
and  to  the  dying  who  can  never  die  because  they 
live  and  believe  in  Him  !  It  is  not,  indeed,  any 
moi'e,  a  visible  and  bodily  presence.  The  time  for 
that  is  passed.  The  work  for  which  there  was 
that  manifestation  is  finished.  It  was  expedient 
that  He  should  go  away,  out  of  sight,  into  the 
glory  which  no  mortal  eye  can  look  upon.  But 
in  many  other  ways  is  lie  present. 

He  is  with  us  by  His  living  Word.  That  which 
He  spake  to  the  ears  that  listened  in  Judea  and 
Galilee  and  which  inspired  pens  have  preserved 
can  never  pass  out  of  the  thought  of  Chiisten- 
dom.  It  is  the  sacred  truth  wdiich  is  imperish- 
able, which  the  world  needs.  It  is  the  light 
which  shineth  in  a  dark  place.  We  would  have 
answers  to  great  questions.  Who  is  Christ  that 
we  may  believe  in  Him  ?  What  was  His 
mission  to  this  melancholy  planet,  and  what  was 
the  work  that  He  triumphantly  accomplished  ? 
What  is  the  meaning  of  Bethlehem's  manger 
whose  fame  has  gone  into  the  world's  poetry 
and  has  glorified  the  world's  high  art?  What 
is  the  lesson  of  the  transfiguration? 

What  to  us  are  the  cries  from  dark  Geth- 
semane  and  the  miracles  that  startled  the  world 
at  the  mysterious  event  on  Calvary?  What 
shall  we  do  to  be  saved  ?  We  ask  in  our  awaken- 
ing and  in  our  despair  and  in  our  hope.  When 
is  the  acceptable  time  and  the  day  of  salvation  ? 


110  THE    MODEL    LIFE. 

How  can  we  become  the  inheritor  of  eternal 
life?  Whose  is  the  victory  tliat  overcometh 
the  world  ?  These  are  the  transcendent  inquiries 
of  luinian  intelligence  and  of  honest  endeavor. 
And  all  these  Christ  now  answers.  As  truly  and 
plainly  as  he  spoke  to  Nicodemus  who  came  to 
Him  by  night,  or  to  the  woman  of  Samaria  who 
came  to  draw  water  from  Jacob's  well,  or  to  the 
young  ruler,  who  came  running  to  Him  with  the 
salutation  of  a  learner  to  a  teacher  who  could 
make  no  mistake,  so  does  He  yet  speak  to 
us,  answering  with  divine  patience  and  wisdom 
these  questions  that  concern  our  life  and  our 
destiny.  How  readest  thou  ?  In  the  volume  of 
the  Book  it  is  written,  and  the  words  of  life  are 
His  own  words  to  you,  as  though  you  heard 
them  fr()m  His  mouth.  He  is  with  us  by  His 
words,  alwa}',  even  unto  the  end  of  the  world. 
No  sinner  need  to  be  in  the  dark  as  to  his  duty. 
Christ  plainly  tells  him  what  he  must  do  to 
be  saved.  No  Christian,  whatever  may  be  his 
spiritual  experience,  lacks  the  sources  of  con- 
solation and  encouragement  and  enlightenment. 
Christ  teaches  him  of  the  way,  the  truth,  and 
the  life.  No  man,  no  lost  man,  no  saved  man,  no 
man  on  the  road  to  immortality,  can  doubt  what 
are  the  things  of  greatest  moment  to  himself  if  he 
will  study  the  preserved  and  luminous  instruc- 
tions of  the  divine  Master.  Because  He  has  spo- 
ken, men  have  no  excuse  for  their  sins.  Because 
He  has  spoken,  the  joy  of  believers  may  be  full. 


Christ's  rRESENCK  in  terplexity.  Ill 

He  is  with  iis  by  His  unobsctired  example.  His 
life  was  in  the  sight  of  the  world.  It  was 
an  illuminated  life.  It  shone  on  all  the  path- 
ways where  He  trod.  His  footsteps  have  never 
been  effaced.  We  can  follow  Him  in  the  sweet 
relations  of  His  Hebrew  home  life  :  as  He  passed 
into  the  solitude  of  the  wilderness  for  Satanic 
temptation  :  as  He  came  into  the  synagogue 
on  the  Sabbath-day  for  worship  as  His  custom 
was:  as  He  taught  and  wrought  for  the  good  of 
men  :  as  he  went  about  doing  good :  as  he 
suffered  and  died  for  others,  carrying  their  sor- 
rows and  wounded  for  their  transgressions. 

All  this  is  before  us  :  a  sacred  object  lesson, 
from  which  we  can  learn  what  we  should  be. 
It  is  as  though  He  were  still  here,  leading  those 
who  love  Him,  bidding  them,  as  He  bade  James 
and  Peter  and  John,  "  follow  me."  For  He  left 
us  an  example,  that  we  should  follow  His  steps. 
Though  He  went  away.  His  example  remains. 
He  did  no  sin.  He  delighted  to  do  God's  will. 
He  was  a  dutiful  child.  He  was  a  loving  friend. 
Nazareth  was  made  sacred  because  His  child- 
hood was  spent  there.  Bethany  became  a  dear 
name  because  He  so  loved  one  of  its  humble 
homes.  Capernaum  came  to  eminence  in  human 
thought  because  His  mighty  works  were 
wrought  therein.  Jerusalem  gained  its  chief 
renown  as  the  scene  of  great  events  in  His  life 
and  tragic  death.  He  pleased  not  Himself.  He 
took   on  Him  the  form  of  a  servant.     He  was 


112  THE    MODEL    LIFE. 

about  His  Father's  business.  He  loved  us  and 
died  for  us.  Wc  cannot  mistake  as  to  what  He 
was.  We  can  see  Him  :  wc  can  walk  with 
Him  :  we  can  feel  His  touch.  No  brother  is 
more  real  to  us.  No  friend  leaves  a  clearer 
evidence  of  what  he  is.  And  so  a«jain  is  ful- 
filled His  promise    Lo,   I    am    with  you    alway. 

He  is  with  us  by  tJie  presence  and  power  of  tJie 
Holy  Spirit.  There  is  a  sacred  mystery  in  the 
three-fold  personality  of  the  One  Divine  Being. 
The  Persons  are  distinct,  and  they  are  one.  It 
is  a  blessed  mystery,  which  glorifies  to  us  the 
Godhead.  It  is  a  fact  supremely  significant. 
It  is  far  more  than  the  unitarian  idea  of  one  God 
operating  in  three  modes,  revealing  Himself  in 
three  distinct  relations  to  us.  He  is  three 
Persons  as  truly  as  any  three  of  you  are  distinct 
persons,  and  yet  He  is  but  one  Being,  one  God. 
I  (one  Person)  will  pray  the  Father  (another 
Person),  and  He  shall  give  you  another  Com- 
forter (the  third  Person).  Although  we  cannot 
explain  it,  cannot  even  understand  it,  we  accept 
it  as  a  grateful  and  profound  truth,  which  states 
to  us  the  glory  of  Him  who  must  be  a  mystery 
to  us  if  He  be  God. 

The  doctrine  of  the  presence  of  the  Holy 
Spirit  with  Christians  as  Christ  gave  it  is  this: 
He  comes  in  Christ's  name,  to  glorify  Christ,  to 
take  of  the  things  of  Christ  and  to  declare  them 
unto  those  who  are  Christ's,  to  guide  disciples 
into  all  truth,  to  teach  them  all   things  and    to 


CHRIST  S    PRESENCE    IN    f  ERPLEXITT.  113 

bring-  all  things  to  their  remembrance  that 
Christ  has  said  unto  them,  and  to  abide  with 
them  and  to  be  in  them  forever.  So,  as  one 
with  Christ,  He  is  Christ  in  them.  Christ  went 
away  that  He  might  send  the  Comforter,  who 
is  the  Holy  Spirit.  He,  by  His  spiritual  pres- 
ence, could  be  more  to  them  than  Christ  could 
be  in  His  bodily  presence.  So,  we  have  the 
Spirit  and  having  Him  we  have  Christ,  forever 
with  us.  He  works  in  us  both  to  will  and  to 
work  for  His  good  pleasure.  God  sent  forth  the 
Spirit  of  His  Son  into  our  hearts,  crying,  Abba, 
Father.  Led  by  the  Spirit  of  God  we  are  the 
sons  of  God  :  and  if  sons,  then  heirs,  lirst-heirs 
with  Christ  in  the  eternal  inheritances  of  the 
Kingdom  ! 

He  is  with  us  in  our  participation  of  the  Holy 
Sacrament  of  the  Supper  of  our  Loid.  When 
He  instituted  it  He  had  respect  to  His  departure 
from  His  disciples,  and  so  He  said,  "  This  do  in 
remembrance  of  me."  It  is  His  body  and  His 
blood  that  are  symbolized  in  the  sacred  ele- 
ments, and  so  partaking  of  them  we  do,  in  a 
sense,  partake  of  Him.  It  was  in  the  structure 
of  the  ordinance  that  it  should  be  observed  by  all 
believers  throughout  all  time  :  for  He  said,  "  As 
often  as  ye  eat  this  bread,  and  drink  this  cup,  ye 
proclaim  the  Lord's  death  till  He  come,"  i.  e.,  till 
His  second  coming  to  judge  the  world  and  to 
close  the  world's  mournful  and  wonderful  history. 
So  long,  in    this    holy    communion,  will    He    be 


114  TilE    MODEL    LIFE. 

witli  His  followers  alway  even  unto  the  end  of 
the  world.  Here  He  conies  to  them  in  the 
snprcnie  event  of  His  niissicjn  to  the  earth. 
Those  who  love  Him  arc  here  in  the  goodly 
company  of  His  trnsted  and  faithful  friends  who 
reclined  with  Him  at  the  institution  of  the  sup- 
per, His  beloved  apostles,  who  heard  indeed 
His  words,  "  This  do,"  but  could  not  understand 
their  meaning,  as  the  event  made  it  plain  to  them 
and  to  us.  We  are  among  that  great  company 
of  people  and  of  women  who  bewailed  and 
lamented  Him.  We  stand  by  the  cross  of  Jesus 
with  His  own  mother,  through  whose  soul  there 
pierced  the  sword  as  predicted,  and  His  mother's 
sister,  Mary,  the  wife  of  Clopas,  and  Mary  Mag- 
dalene. We  bow  there  with  the  disciple  whom 
He  loved  and  hear  His  dying  words. 

Ah  !  that  Cross  was  uplifted  for  us.  Those 
nails  were  driven  because  we  were  the  sinners. 
That  crown  of  thorns  whose  spikes  started  the 
blood  from  the  forehead  of  the  Master  was  that 
which  we  deserved  to  wear.  The  spear  thrust 
which  wounded  Him  miglit  have  properly 
pierced  us.  The  body,  sacred  body  !  was  broken 
for  us.  The  blood,  blood  of  Divine  atonement! 
was  shed  for  us.  As  we  realize  this  (and  nowhere 
else  do  we  realize  it  so  fully)  the  Lord  seems  in- 
deed present  with  us.  We  can  feel  it.  His  voice 
thrills  our  souls.  His  touch  vitalizes  us.  His  ben- 
ediction falls  on  us.  As  we  go  away,  we  say,  "He 
whom  we  love,  was  with  us  at  the  feast  to-day  !" 


Christ's  presence  in  perplexity.  116 

There  is  another,  more  mystic,  meanin^^  in 
which  He  is  with  us,  which  is  expressed  in  His 
own  words  :  "  Ye  shall  know  that  I  am  in  my 
Father,  and  ye  in  Me,  and  I  in  you.  Abide  in 
Me  and  I  in  you.  Apart  from  Me  ye  can  do 
nothing.  We  will  come  unto  Him  and  make 
our  abode  with  Him.  1  am  the  vine,  3'e  are  the 
branches."  Such  language  implies  that  f/icn-  is  a 
couivion  life  of  the  Redeemer  and  His  members. 
He  lives  in  them,  and  they  live  in  Him.  When 
by  faith  the  soul  takes  hold  of  Him,  His  life 
streams  into  that  soul,  as,  when  a  cutting  is 
grafted  into  the  parent  stock,  the  life  of  the  stock 
flows  into  the  engrafted  wood  and  it  becomes 
thenceforward  a  part  of  the  one  growth.  Chiist's 
life  came  into  humanity  and  all  human  souls 
joined  to  Him  become  Christian  souls,  partakers 
of  Christ,  one  with  Him.  This  is  mystery  :  but 
mystery  is  everywhere  :  and  this  spiritual  mys- 
tery is  no  more  unsolvable  than  the  ni3'sterious 
processes  which  are  before  our  eyes  in  natural 
growths  and  changes  all  around  us. 

The  outward  exj)ression  of  it  is  in  the  Church 
and  its  membership.  The  Church  is  Christ's 
body,  outwardly  manifesting  Him  before  human 
sight  and  offering  itself  to  human  study.  The 
members  make  it  up,  enter  into  such  confes- 
sional and  sacramental  union  to  it  that  they  are 
constituent  parts  of  it  and  so  members  of  His 
body,  of  His  flesh  and  of  His  bones.  They  suf- 
fer   together:  they  rejoice  together:  they  serve 


116  THE  MODEL   LIFE. 

together :  Christ  and  His  members  one.  The  Best 
name  foi  a  Christian  Church  is  Itnmanuel,  God 
wilh  lis.  This  is  the  Scriptural  name  of  Christ, 
and  it  therefore  i)roves  His  essential  divinity,  and 
it  proves  also  that  we,  in  our  union  to  him,  are, 
as  St.  Peter  calls  the  Christians,  "  partakers  of 
the  divine  nature."  And  so,  again,  is  wonder- 
fully fulfilled  His  word,  "  Lo,  I  am  with  you 
ahvay,  even  unto  the  end  of  the  world."  He, 
our  Lord,  is  present  with  us  now,  where  we  are. 
But  the  days  are  drawing  nigh  when  we  shall 
be  present  with  Him  where  He  is.  He  is,  with  Jis 
now,  in  all  through  which  we  are  appointed  to 
pass;  in  joy  and  in  trial;  in  days  brilliant  with 
sunlight  and  in  days  heavy  with  enswathing 
clouds  ;  in  our  youthful  struggles,  and  in  the 
easy  victories  of  our  age  ;  in  our  quiet  home-life, 
and  in  our  battles  against  the  world's  opposing 
forces;  while  we  live  and  when  we  come  to  die. 
We  live  and  trust  in  our  Immanuel. 

We  shall  be  zaith  Him  then,  on  the  golden 
floors,  within  the  massive  gates  of  pearl,  before 
the  throne  of  whiteness,  in  the  light  which  is 
brilliant  as  the  light  of  a  thousand  suns  ;  forever 
free,  yet  confirmed  in  holiness  ;  like  unto  Him, 
sharers  with  Him  in  a  life  whose  wonderfulness 
even  our  imagination  cannot  estimate,  advanc- 
ing in  strength  of  holy  character  and  in  the  wide- 
ness  of  certain  knowledge  through  milleniums 
that  shall  never  end. 


X. 


BEAUTIES   OF   THE   CHRIST-LIFE. 


EN  live  in  that  which  most  absorbs  and 
occupies  them.  He  who  gives  his 
thought  and  time  and  influence  and 
means  to  the  success  of  a  political  party  lives  in 
politics.  One  may  so  give  himself  to  his  daily 
business  tiiat  he  has  no  care  for  anything  else, 
that  he  is  only  a  boarder  at  his  own  home,  that 
he  keeps  up  acquaintance  with  his  wife  and  chil- 
dren only  because  of  the  fortunate  recurrence  of 
the  first  day  of  the  week  on  which  it  is  illegal 
and  immoral  to  keep  at  his  avocation,  and  that 
man  may  very  truly  be  said  to  live  in  his 
business. 

A  student  may  devote  himself  to  some  speci- 
alty in  science  or  to  some  particular  branch  of 
learning  with  such  absorption  of  mind  and  body, 
such  daily  toil  and  forgetfulness  of  everything 
else,  that  ever3'one  would  say  that  he  fairly  lives 
in  his  specialty. 

An  astronomer  may  live  among  the  stars. 

A  sailor  may  be  so  homesick  for  the  great  and 
wide  sea  when  he  is  ashore,  that  his  look  is  ever 
toward  it,  that  his  love  goes  out  to  the  crested 

[I '7] 


118  THE    MoDKL    LIKE. 

waves  and  his  heart  sinji^s  in  harmony  with  the 
deep  bass  of  the  ocean,  that  his  gait  on  land  is 
tliatof  one  who  walks  the  rocking  deck  of  a  ship, 
and  that  man  may  be  said  to  live  on  the  sea 
though  ho  may  be  ashore. 

Patrii)ts  have  had  such  devotion  to  their 
country  that  it  has  been  a  joy  to  them  to  give 
their  lives  to  it.  "My  countr}-  was  my  idol !" 
said  an  eloquent  patriot  bef(jre  he  died  f(jr  it. 

Men  have  braved  polar  cold  and  freezing  floes 
that  they  might  rescue  their  imi)eriled  fellows, 
and  so  have  lived  in  them.  Livingstone  lived  in 
Africa  because  he  lived  and  died  for  it.  For 
Bismarck  to  live  is  German}-.  For  some  men  to 
live  is  country,  or  commerce,  or  science,  or 
philosophy,  or  politics.  Intense  devotion,  un- 
limited absorption  or  occupation,  defines  and 
designates  life. 

There  was  a  man,  in  the  early  history  of  Chris- 
tianity, who  announced,  "For  to  me  to  live  is 
Christ!"  That  was  a  new  and  strange  declara- 
tion. Men  had  lived,  as  we  have  seen,  f(jr  vastly 
diffcicnt  things.  St.  Paul  was  then  a  prisoner  of 
the  Koman  government  at  the  capital.  Accord- 
ing to  the  custom  he  was  chained  to  a  Roukui 
soldier.  Those  of  whom  he  saw  the  most  weie 
the  blood-stained  veteians  of  the  conqueiing  em- 
piie  and  the  slaves  of  tiie  palace.  To  them  the 
brave  apostle  made  Christ  known.  And  when 
he  closed  his  letter  he  wrote,  "All  the  saints 
salute  you,  especially  they  that  are  of  Ccesar's 


BEAUTIES    OF    THE    CHRIST    LIFE.  119 

household. "  Right  there  he  had  made  converts 
to  the  Christian  faith,  so  that  in  the  pahace,  dark 
with  lust  and  reeking  with  crimes  that  cannot  be 
mentioned,  there  were  real  saints,  men  and 
women  led  by  the  apostle  to  love  the  divine 
Christ.  The  temptations  of  a  voluptuous  court 
and  the  fascinations  of  a  profligate  frivolity  could 
not  make  them  swerve  from  a  true  Christian  life. 
For  Nero  to  live  was  crime  and  lust.  For  Paul 
to  live  was  Clirist.  The  palace  and  the  prison 
were  oppositcs.  Debauchery  and  infamous  vice 
reigned  in  one.  Prayer  and  hymns,  and  the  invi- 
tations of  Cliristian  love,  were  heard  in  the  other. 

To  Paul  to  live  was  Christ.  And  so  in  prison 
and  expecting  any  day  to  be  summoned  for  trial 
before  the  heathen  emperor,  equally  as  when 
free;  in  Rome  equally  as  in  Philippi;  he  lived 
our.  the  Clirist  who  lived  in  him.  This  was  his 
new  nature.  He  had  been  a  different  man,  as 
we  well  know.  But  the  new  creation  had  passed 
on  him  and  he  was  a  new  man  in  Christ.  To 
him,  once,  to  live  was  rank  Judaism:  now  to  live 
was  Christ.  And  all  his  grand  and  consecrated 
life  proved  it  to  be  so. 

Some  of  us  may  be  aspirants  for  a  similar  life, 
all  of  us  should  be :  and  it  may  be  of  service  to 
consider  some  of  the  elements  that  enter  into  it 
as  a  practical  experience. 

First  of  all  the  individual  life  must  be  given  to 
Christ.     It  must  be  made  over  to  Him. 

This    is    the   fundamental     principle     of     our 


120  TIIK    MODKL    LIFE. 

religion.  It  is  the  first  C(jinj)i"elieiisive  experi- 
ence that  is  required  in  an  accepted  Christianity. 

The  person  in  coming  to  Christ,  in  becoming 
a  Christian,  must  become  Chrisfs. 

He  did  belong  to  Himself,  or  He  belonged  to 
the  world.  He  made  His  own  will  supreme. 
He  followed  wealth  or  pleasure  or  fame  or  some- 
thing worldly  as  the  one  thing  that  held  satisfac- 
tion. But  when  he  was  convinced  of  sin  and  of 
his  need  of  a  Saviour  from  the  power  and  from  the 
guilt  of  sin,  he  gave  himself  to  Christ.  If  he 
did  not,  if  he  went  only  half  as  far  as  this,  he 
did  not,  in  the  deepest  sense,  become  a  Christian. 
He  may  have  gone  so  far  as  to  admire  the  Chris- 
tian ethics,  the  morality  of  Christianity  ;  to 
admire  the  character  of  its  great  and  benign 
Founder  which  lifts  Him  above  all  other  men  of 
all  ages  ;  to  admire  the  kingdom  which  He  has 
set  up  in  this  world  and  which  is  so  manifestly  a 
kingdom  of  power  and  conquest ;  but  this  is  not 
to  become  a  Christian,  and  no  one  can  truly 
become  such  unless  and  until  he  becomes  Christ's, 
so  that  he  can  say,  like  the  apostle,  To  me  to 
live  is  Christ. 

The  magic  lies  in  that  name.  The  experience 
consists  in  transferring  one'sself  into  Christ. 
There  is  new  creation.  The  old  personality 
disappears.  We  have  seen  this  wrought  in 
inany  cases,  and  we  cannot  doubt  it.  It  is  a 
conversion.  It  is  a  change  from  one  person  into 
an(Hhcr  person,  and  the    latter  more  real   than 


BEAUTIES    OF    THE    CHRIST    LIFE.  121 

the  former.  Paul  was  an  early  and  a  very  strik- 
ing instance  of  it.  The  old  Saul  who  hated 
Christ  and  would  have  tortured  and  killed  every 
one  of  His  followers,  passed  off  the  stage  as 
truly  as  though  he  had  died  and  been  buried. 
No  one  ever  saw  him  after  that  fierce  ride  to 
Damascus.  When  he  fell  on  the  highway  before 
the  light  of  a  revealing  Christ,  it  was  as  though 
he  had  fallen  dead.  The  man  who  came  forth 
from  Damascus,  in  his  clothes,  was  another  man. 
His  outward  appearance,  to  be  sure,  was  like 
him  ;  but  even  that,  no  doubt,  was  a  good  deal 
changed,  so  that  all  who  heard  him  were 
amazed. 

But  inwardly  he  was  another  man.  Nothing 
remained  of  him  as  he  was.  New  thoughts,  new 
hopes,  other  purposes,  a  different  love,  a  higher 
life,  worked  in  him.  The  new  Paul  came  on  to 
the  stage  and  the  tragedy  of  a  vaster  and  a 
grander  life  unrolled  its  sublime  acts.  Men  for- 
got the  old  Saul  :  but  they  never  forgot,  and 
never  will  forget,  the  new  Paul.  He  left  to  the 
world  a  legacy  of  devotion  and  service  which  has 
been  an  inspiration,  which  has  thrilled  our  sen- 
sitive natures  through  all  Christian  centuries, 
and  has  sent  forces  of  revolution  and  benediction 
into  nation  after  nation,  and  which  to-da}'  is  call- 
ing forth  from  Christian  homes  and  Christian 
schools  consecrated  youths  to  carry  Christ,  whose 
they  are  and  whom  they  serve,  to  lost  and  be- 
nighted and  sinful  and  suffering  men  and  women 


\-22  TIIK    M(»I)KI-    LIFE. 

and  children  on  all  continents  and  pagan  islands 
of  the  sea. 

St.  Paul  could  say,  "  It  is  no  longer  I  that  live, 
but  Christ  liveth  in  me."  He  was  "dead  unto 
gin,  but  alive  unto  God  in  Christ  Jesus."  He  was 
whoU}'  converted,  wholly  given  to  Christ.  That 
must  we  be  if  we  would  worthily  bear  the 
Christian  name.  Wc  cannot  use  this  language, 
"  to  me  to  live  is  Christ"  unless  we  are  Christ's. 
And  this  must  carry  everything  with  it.  We 
cannot  be  Christ's,  and  be  at  the  same  time  the 
world's,  or  be  self-controlled.  Wc  cannot  say, 
in  a  selfish  spirit,  my  property,  my  time,  my 
learning,  my  business,  my  influence,  for  all  are 
Christ's.  Giving  ourselves  to  Him,  we  give  all 
that  belongs  to  us  to  Him,  and  we  are  not  our 
own. 

That  is  the  standard  of  Christianity.  Religion 
never  lowers  that  standard.  Paul  came  up  to 
it.  Many  since  his  day  have  come  up  to  it.  Many 
in  our  day  are  meeting  it.  For  them  to  live  is 
Christ.  They  do  not  live,  but  Christ  lives  in 
them.  Their  lives  are  all  active  and  aglow  with 
the  Christ  whose  living  heart  beats  the  music  of 
their  divine  walk. 

Also,  the  consecration  to  Clirist  must  reveal 
itself,  and  justify  itself,  in  the  visible  conduct  of 
life.  Our  Christ  is  a  revealed  Christ;  He  is 
a  Christ  of  the  world  and  for  the  world.  He  is 
not  a  cloistered  Christ:  He  does  not  keep  Him- 
self in    the   clouds   nor  in  the   dazzling  glories 


BEAUTIES    OF    THE    CHRIST    LIFE.  123 

of  heaven.  His  work,  His  great  redeeming 
work  for  us,  was  done  in  the  sight  of  men, 
on  the  conspicuous  places  of  the  world.  He  did 
not  atone  for  us  in  the  far  heavens,  but  He  made 
our  common  walks  illustrious  by  His  footsteps 
on  them,  and  our  common  places  luminous  and 
glowing  by  His  endurances  in  them.  Bethle- 
hem was  a  town  of  no  great  distinction  till  His 
birth  in  it  lifted  it  to  a  glorious  renown.  Naza- 
reth was  a  despised  village  until  his  life  in  it  gave 
it  a  wider  fame  than  any  royal  city  of  the  Caes- 
ars. Gethsomane  and  Calvary  have  inspired  the 
poeti"}'  of  the  people  by  their  voices  of  pathos 
and  agony  beyond  any  other  great  endurances 
of  heroes  and  martyrs,  because  the  memory 
of  His  voluntary  and  priceless  sufferings  rever- 
berates and  thrills  in  their  enduring  and  un- 
forgotten  names.  He  was  in  the  world.  He 
was  seen  among  us.  The  tones  of  heaven  were 
in  His  voice.  The  light  of  heaven  was  in  His 
e3'es.  The  help  of  heaven  was  in  His  hand.  We 
beheld  His  glor}-,  glory  as  of  the  only  begotten 
from  the  Father. 

And  since  He  went  away  His  followers  have  re- 
produced his  life,  in  lowly  and  unworthy  ways  it 
may  be,  but  in  methods  and  experiences  which 
He  has  graciously  accepted  and  blessed,  and  on 
which  He  has  pronounced  His,  Well  done. 

It  is  not  enough  to  experience  religion  in  the 
closet.  It  is  not  enough  to  come  alone  to  God 
in  repentance  and  faith  and  to  make  loyal  vows 


124  THE    MODEL    MFE. 

ill  private.  They  who  follow  the  Master  will 
follow  him  openly,  before  kings  and  populace,  in 
country  and  in  city,  in  the  temple  and  by  the  well- 
side.  Paul's  life  was  a  life  of  declaration.  He 
said,  1  stand  unto  this  day,  having  obtained  the 
help  that  is  from  God,  testifying  both  to  small 
and  great.  He  was  an  open  witness  and  confessor. 
He  wanted  to  know  Christ  and  the  fellowship  of 
His  sufferings.  He  wanted  t(j  be  a  partaker 
of  His  sufferings.  He  woidd  have  gone  into  an- 
other Gethsemane  and  borne  a  cross  up  another 
Golgotha.  He  said,  I  fill  up  on  my  part  that 
which  is  lacking  of  the  afflictions  of  Christ  for 
the  church.  He  knew  what  he  said,  when  he  said, 
I  bear  branded  on  my  body  the  marks  of  Jesus. 
From  our  land  and  from  our  best  institutions 
lately  went  a  young  scholar,  with  the  honors  of 
high  scholarship,  with  promotion  already  offered 
to  him,  to  pursue  further  stud}'  with  the 
advantages  which  German  research  and  learning 
might  give  him.  He  was  possessed  of  Christ, 
and  his  devotion  was  apparent  in  the  daily  life 
he  lived,  in  the  language  which  he  spoke,  in  the 
purposes  by  which  he  was  plainly  contiolled. 
Among  the  students  with  whom  he  associated 
he  was  known  as  a  real  lover  of  the  Lord. 
His  walk  attracted  the  attention  of  a  young 
American  who  had  come  to  the  German  capital 
and  had  engaged  in  profitable  business  there.  He 
sought  in  repeated  interviews  to  learn  the  secret 
of    the   life    which    had    won    his    respect   and 


BEAUTIES   OF   THE    CHRIST    LIFE.  125 

regard.  He  found  it  in  the  remark  of  his  friend  : 
"  I  know  of  but  one  thing  in  this  world  worth 
living  for,  to  be  Christ's  and  to  bring  others  to 
Him."  So  different  was  this  from  anything  in 
his  own  life  that  it  brought  him  to  the  Saviour; 
and  he  abandoned  his  brilliant  business,  returned 
to  this  country,  and  established  himself  in  the 
State  of  Washington,  where,  with  his  business,  he 
could  enjyaire  in  active  Christian  work.  And  this 
was  but  one  instance  of  many  where  that  life 
wrought  on  other  lives  for  their  union  to  Christ. 
And  when,  a  few  months  ago,  this  young  scholar, 
in  the  Austrian  Tyrol,  closed  his  earthly  work 
too  soon,  it  was  seen  that  he  had  not  lived  in 
vain,  for  the  life  that  he  lived  was  Christ. 

If  we  can  truly  say,  to  me  to  live  is  Christ, 
we  must  know  something  of  it.  Our  Christian 
life  must  be  lived  out  before  the  world.  As,  in 
olden  time,  men  saw  Him  on  their  streets  and 
in  their  homes  and  in  their  assemblies,  and  knew 
that  the  Christ  was  visible,  so  they  must  see 
you  in  places  of  business  and  study,  in  places 
where  men  are,  and  know  tliat  Christ,  in  the 
person  of  one  who  loves  Him  and  serves  Him 
and  represents  Him  to  them,  is  verily  present. 
They  must  see  Him  in  you. 

You  must  speak  His  language.  Such  words 
as  those  which  reached  the  intellect  of 
Nicodemus  and  the  conscience  of  the  woman  of 
Samaria,  as  revealed  the  young  ruler  to  him- 
self  and    made    Pilate    fear,  as    fell    on   the   sad 


120  THE   MOr)EL    Lit-E. 

hearts  of  tlic  multitudes  who  in  their  hunger 
and  thirst  hung  on  His  lips,  as  led  Roman 
officers,  awed  by  His  language,  to  say,  never 
man  so  spake,  must  be  yijur  words  to  your 
associates  and  to  strangers.  You  must  speak  the 
language  of  heaven  in  the  midst  of  the  Babel 
tongues  of  the  world.  Christian  songs  have 
awakened  responsive  tones  in  dull  souls,  and 
Christian  testimon\'  has  convinced  gainsayers 
of  the  reality  of  personal  faith  in  Christ. 

You  must  interpret  the  meaning  of  disciple- 
ship.  From  you  men  must  know  that  it  means 
Christ,  repr(Kluccd  in  His  loving  spirit,  in  His 
tender  sympathy,  in  His  attractive  grace.  They 
must  see  that  religion  is  not  a  mere  profession, 
but  that  it  carries  a  large,  generous,  winning 
practice.  Light  must  go  out  from  you  into 
darkness  and  wretched  souls,  so  that  duty  shall 
be  made  clear  to  them,  so  that  they  shall  see 
the  peril  of  sin,  the  way  of  deliverance,  the 
attractions  of  the  cross  and  of  heaven.  There 
was  profound  meaning  in  the  words  of  Him  who 
was  the  Light  of  the  world,  to  His  disciples, 
when  He  told  them,  F<?  are  the  light  of  the  world. 

You  must  make  it  clear  that  your  religion  is 
one  of  helpfulness.  Help  was  laid  on  one  who 
was  mighty,  when  our  salvation  was  laid  on 
Christ :  and  the  pitiful  cry  of  the  helpless  to 
Him  when  He  was  here,  was.  Lord  help  us. 
Men  need  it  now.  Involved  in  sin,  tangled  in 
the    meshes    of    worldliness.    taken    captixe   by 


BEAUTIES    OF    THE   CHRIST    LIFE.  l27 

Satan  at  his  will,  they  want  the  helping  hand  of  a 
brother  for  their  rescue.  It  is  for  us  to  give  it,  in 
His  name. 

The  joy  of  giving  it,  the  joy  of  helping  to  save 
a  brother,  is  the  sweetest  joy  this  side  of  heaven  ; 
it  is  akin  to  the  joy  of  Clirist  who  for  the  joy 
that  was  set  before  Him  endured  the  cross- 
Jeannie  Deans'  words  in  the  "  Heart  of  Mid- 
lothian" are:  "  It  is  na  when  we  sleep  soft  and 
wake  merrily,  oursels,  that  we  think  on  other 
people's  sufferings.  But  when  the  hour  o' 
trouble  comes  to  the  mind  and  to  the  body,  and, 
when  the  hour  o'  death  comes  to  high  and  low 
then  it  is  na  what  we  hae  dune  for  oursels,  but 
what  we  hae  dune  for  others,  that  we  think  on 
maist  pleasantly." 

We  must  remember  out  of  what  trouble  the 
Helper  rescued   us,  when  He  sought  and  found 

us. 

"  But  none  of  the  ransomed  ever  knew 
How  deep  were  the  waters  crossed, 
Nor  how  dark  was  the  night  that  the  Lord  passed  through 
Ere  He  found  his  sheep  that  was  lost. 
Out  in  the  desert  He  heard  the  cry, — 
Sick,  and  helpless,  and  ready  to  die." 

Now,  if  our  own  personal  consecration  to  Christ 
reveals  itself  and  justifies  itself,  in  such  visible 
union  to  our  Lord,  it  will  be  no  assumption  for 
us  to  say.  For  me  to  live  is  Christ. 

It  is  the  Christian  way  to  live:  and,  so  living, 
we  shall  be  ready  to  appropriate  the  other  part  of 
the  same  Scripture,  for  me  to  die  is  gain  ! 


XI. 

CHRIST  THE   CONFIDING  FRIEND. 

HE  new  relation  in  whicli  Christ  would 
stand  to  those  who  had  been  with  Him 
in  His  blessed  ministry  was  a  relation 
oi  tender  and  trustful  friendship.  He  would 
henceforth  take  them  into  His  confidence  ;  make 
His  jo}'^  the  joy  of  them  all ;  permit  them  to  share 
with  Him  in  whatever  there  might  be  in  His  life 
and  work  that  would  take  hold  of  their  strongest 
enthusiasms  and  their  impassioned  devotion  ;  and 
to  look  on  with  Him  to  the  peaceful  termination 
in  the  mansions  of  rest  which  He  had  promised 
to  them.  It  was  a  wonderful  thing  that  they 
could  be  admitted  into  this  relationship  of  friend- 
ship with  Hitn.  They  had  been  servants,  and  it 
was  enough  that  they  should  have  the  honor  of 
service  under  one  like  Him.  Men  aspire  to  the 
service  of  great,  trusted  leaders.  They  offer 
themselves  and  their  fortunes  in  life-long  devo- 
tion to  one  who  is  undertaking  conquest,  who  is 
building  up  national  power,  or  is  on  a  career 
of  personal  glory.  Much  more  might  one  be 
satisfied  to  be,  what  St.  Paul  seems  to  glory 
in  calling    himself,  the  servant  of  Jesus  Christ. 

[129] 


130  THE    MODEL    MKK. 

But  Christ  advances  those  whom  He  loves  and 
who  love  Him,  to  a  higher  place.  "  Henceforth 
I  call  you  not  servants:  for  the  servant  knoweth 
not  what  his  Lord  docth  ;  but  I  have  called  you 
friends;  for  all  things  that  I  have  heard  of  my 
father  I  have  made  known  unto  you." 

It  is  for  us  to  consider,  and  to  share  in,  the 
Friendship  of  Christ. 

We  know  what  it  is  to  pass  out  of  mere 
acquaintance  with  some  one  with  whom  we  have 
met  and  with  whom  we  have  conversed  and 
labored,  into  the  larger  and  riper  relation  of 
friendship.  Everything  is  changed  with  that. 
Reserve,  formality,  conventionalism,  the  barriers 
that  separate  souls,  fall  away,  and  frankness, 
confidence,  ease,  geniality,  freedom,  take  their 
place. 

We  learn  more,  too,  of  him  who  has  become  our 
friend.  We  look  deeper  into  his  nature  and  see 
its  wealth  and  strength  and  loveliness  as  we 
could  not  before.  We  learn  to  build  on  him. 
We  distrust  ourselves  until  we  have  stated  the 
case  to  our  friend.  In  his  approval  we  find  the 
highest  reason.  His  judgment  is  judicial  with 
us.  We  enjo}'  his  presence  :  we  take  satisfaction 
in  labor  with  him,  and  the  future  is  brighter  by 
reason  of  this  friendship.  Now  all  this  and 
more  comes  of  the  Friendship  of  Christ. 

See  how  it  leads  the  human  soul  into  the  place 
of  rest.  Men  are  uneasy,  disturbed,  and  they 
ought  to  be,  when  they  are  simply  in  a  state  of 


CHRIST   THE    CONFIDING    FRIICND.  131 

nature.  There  is  nothing  in  sin  to  produce 
peace.  What  sort  of  a  condition  is  that  which 
is  expressed  by  enmity  with  God  ?  Who  can 
have  comfort  in  a  world  like  this  who  has  no 
assurance  of  a  happ}^  future?  Christ's  great  call 
to  the  troubled  world,  is,  Come  unto  me  and  I 
will  give  you  rest.  The  soul  that  has  the  experi- 
ence of  His  friendship  is  like  a  ship  that  has 
reached  the  haven.  It  is  out  of  the  storm  and 
the  fury  of  wave  :  it  has  cast  anchor  :  it  rides 
securely  in  port.  For  although  the  Christian 
has  trials,  although  losses  and  sorrows  and  many 
adverse  things  may  come  to  him,  yet  he  has  that 
which  calms  him  and  supports  him  and  more 
than  makes  up  for  all  calamities,  in  the  love  of 
Christ.  He  is  united  to  one  who  knows  the 
extreme  of  sorrow  and  endurance:  whose  worn 
feet  have  gone  on  every  hard  path  that  their  feet 
must  go  on  whom  He  calls  His  friends  :  whose 
burdened  heart  has  carried  not  His  own  pains 
alone,  but  the  miseries  of  unnumbered  multi- 
tudes, yes,  the  griefs  and  the  sins  of  a  world. 

And  when  in  the  trustfulness  of  true  friend- 
ship the  soul  learns  to  lean  on  Him,  it  learns  that 
it  leans  on  strength,  on  eternal  love,  and  it  finds 
the  place  of  rest,  rest  for  the  wearied  soul.  This 
is  the  first  thing,  and  it  is  not  the  least  thing.  We 
want  anchorage.  We  want  something  to  take 
hold  of,  as  when  the  flukes  find  the  ribs  of  rock 
below  the  lashed  and  angry  surface  of  the  sea. 
We  don't  want  to  be  forever  tossed  at  random, by 


132  THE    MODEL    LIFE. 

any  wind  or  storm  :  but  to  be  at  peace.  When 
we  repose  in  Christ's  friendship,  know  that  He 
calls  us  no  longer  servants  but  friends,  we  have 
security,  rest  now,  and  the  promise  of  everlast- 
ing rest. 

Notice  the  reciprocity  that  goes  on  between 
those  who  are  united  in  this  friendship.  Friend- 
ship implies  mutual  exchange  of  love  and  con- 
fidence and  favor.  There  is  a  wide  difference 
here  between  the  parties.  On  one  side  is  greatness 
and  power,  and  on  the  other  feebleness  and  need. 
Yet  Christ  does  not  expect  from  His  friends 
more  than  they  can  give  :  He  prizes,  beyond  all 
statement,  just  what  they  can  give.  He  does 
not  need  the  things  that  the  world  puts  first:  but 
He  does  prize  affection,  faith,  loyalty.  He  pours 
out  to  Hii  friends  the  fullness  of  God's  gifts, 
and  then  He  takes  from  them,  and  is  glad  to  take 
their  confidence  and  love.  And  so  this  peculiar 
friendship  waxes:  the  Great  Friend  lavishing  of 
Divine  blessings  upon  those  whom  He  loves,  and 
the}^  offering  their  tribute  of  myrrh,  and  frank- 
incense, and  gold  as  symbols  of  an  affection  that 
would  gladly  give  the  best  it  could  to  One  in- 
finitely worthy. 

There  springs  then  :\  personal  interest  in  each 
other.  Being  friends,  the  feelings  and  the  for- 
tunes of  each  are  dear  to  the  other.  So  gracious 
and  personal  is  Christ's  regard  for  those  whom 
He  has  chosen,  that  He  calls  them  all  by  name. 
How  dear  are  the  naines  of   our   friends  to  us! 


CHRIST   tHE   CONPlDiNCJ   FRIEND.  l33 

If  we  hear  them  spoken  anywhere  our  hearts 
bound  in  response.  They  thrill  in  our  souls  like 
strains  and  tunes  of  most  familiar  and  loved 
music.  Christ  knows  his  own,  not  by  looks,  not 
by  characteristics,  nor  by  walk  or  manner  only, 
but  by  name.  He  has  a  personal  knowledge  of 
them  and  a  personal  interest  in  them.  He  never 
forgets  them.  And  they  cling  to  Him.  He  is 
all  to  them.  The  last  name  they  speak  is  His 
name.  The  One  for  whom  they  would  dare  the 
most,  for  whom  they  would  sacrifice  the  most, 
all  other  friends,  fame,  property,  life,  is  He. 
They  are  devoted  to  Him.  The  friendship 
mounts  into  fiery  passion,  into  consuming  love. 

Observe  here  the  basis  of  unity.  Not  only  are 
they  one  in  Him,  so  consolidating  the  kingdom 
which  is  gathering  in  the  world,  but  they  are 
one  of  themselves.  One  fold,  one  shepherd. 
They  who  separate  themselves  from  the  mem- 
bers, separate  themselves  from  the  Head.  That 
they  all  may  be  one,  was  His  prayer  for  His  fol- 
lowers. And  it  is  delightful  to  see  the  unity  of 
the  church,  as  drawing  its  common  life  from  its 
common  love.  It  is  enough  for  me  that  one  is 
Christ's.  Our  children  get  their  Christ-name  in 
baptism  :  there  they  become  the  lambs  of  the 
flock.  But  we  get  Christ  Himself  when  we  join 
His  body  which  is  His  church.  And  though  we 
may  have  outward  denominations  by  which  we 
stand  in  the  world,  to  be  known  by  the  world, 
they  should  not  separate   us  in  our  work  or   in 


\',H  THE    MODKL    UFK. 

our  communion.  Our  unity  rests  in  Christ.  It 
is  sacred.  We  should  wound  Him  if  we  drew 
away  from  our  brethren,  for  He  is  in  them. 

Out  of  this  friendship  starts  the  inspiration  of 
service.  Great  watchwords  have  rung  in  battle. 
Caught  up  in  the  crisis  of  struggle,  and  passed 
from  mouth  to  mouth,  they  have  been  in  all  the 
air,  and  have  fired  all  hearts  with  irresistible 
passion.  They  have  saved  whole  armies  from 
rout,  and  have  wakened  courage  beneath  the  ribs 
of  despair. 

But  there  has  been  no  watchword  like  the 
name  of  Christ,  and  no- inspiration  like  the  love 
of  Christ.  0!d  men  have  felt  it,  kindling  their 
burned  out  ambitions.  Children  have  felt  it,  cre- 
ating new  experience  in  their  untried  souls.  It 
has  swept  through  all  ranks,  making  prince  and 
beggar,  scholar  and  dullard,  one  brotherhood  in 
the  common  service.  All  barriers  have  fallen 
down  before  this  sublimest  inspiration,  and  one 
object  has  risen  supreme  above  creeds  and 
nationalities  and  inherited  prejudices.  Christ, 
divine  Saviour,  infinite  Friend,  has  overshad- 
owed all  the  world.  It  is  a  marvel  of  marvels 
how  much  men  have  been  willing  to  do  for  Him, 
and  with  what  self-forgetful ness  they  have  re- 
sponded to  His  call  for  service.  It  is  as  though 
there  were  but  one  name  in  all  the  world  to  live 
for  and  one  cause  to  die  for. 

We  read  a  poem  like  "  In  Memoriam,"  and  we 
feel  that  the  poet's  friendship  has  peopled  all  the 


CHRTST   THE    CONFIDING    FRIEND.  135 

world  and  all  the  universe  with  emblems  and  re- 
minders of  his  lost  love.  They  stand  on  eveiy 
mountain-side,  along  every  city  path  :  they 
breathe  in  the  airs  that  blow  from  every  land, 
and  flash  on  the  rays  of  light  that  stream  from 
sun  and  star:  they  speak  in  the  unnumbered 
voices  that  sound  in  all  the  tones  of  nature  and 
in  cathedral  music  and  the  melody  of  choirs  :  they 
are  as  the  sails  of  ships  that,  push  forth  from  port, 
and  as  the  flags  that  fly  toward  the  piers  of  home  : 
armies  of  men  suggest  them  and  the  lonely  pil. 
grim  as  well. 

"  I  find  no  place  that  does  not  breathe 
tsonie  gracious  memory  of  my  friend. 
Strange  friend,  past,  present,  and  to  be  ; 

Love  deeplier,  darklier  understood  ; 

Behold  I  dream  a  dream  of  good, 
And  mingle  all  the  world  with  thee. 
Thy  voice  is  on  the  rolling  air  ; 

1  hear  thee  when  the  waters  run  ; 

Thou  standest  in  the  rising  sun. 
And  in  the  setting  thou  art  fair. 

Though  mixed  with  God  and  nature  there, 
I  seem  to  love  thee  more  and  more." 

And  this,  which  is  the  poetry  of  human  friend- 
ship, is  the  reality  of  Christ-friendship.  He  is 
all  and  in  all,  and  life  is  but  a  poor  offering  to 
bring  to  Him,  and  consecration  to  His  name  and 
cause  is  the  gladness  of  being. 

And  here  we  find  the  basis  of  prayer.  Com- 
munion with  Christ   on  the  terms  of  friendship, 


136  THE   MODEL   LIFE. 

speaking  with  Him  of  the  things  that  concern  us 
most,  stating  anxieties,  and  fears,  and  sorrows, 
yes,  and  sins,  and  all  great  matters  of  experience, 
to  Him,  as  one  would  do  in  the  utter  confidence 
of  tried  and  genuine  friendship  ;  asking  the  put- 
ting forth  of  His  ahnightiness  and  the  shaping  of 
events  in  His  wisdom,  just  as  we  would  ask  from 
one  who  had  given  us  proof  that  he  wanted  us 
to  ask  ;  what  is  there  so  true  in  prayer  as  this  ? 
This  is  insured  by  tlie  place  in  which  Christ 
welcomes  us.  Not  with  the  cringing,  nor  the 
remoteness  and  formality  of  servants,  do  we  draw 
near  to  Him  ;  but  in  the  warmth  and  confidence 
of  a  mutual  love  we  speak  of  all  our  desires,  as 
friend  talketh  with  his  friend.  Prayer  that  can 
stand  on  that  basis  is  genuine  and  involves 
mutual  confidence.  "  The  Lord  said,  shall  I 
hide  from  Abraham  that  thing  which  I  do  ?" 
"And  the  Lord  spake  unto  Moses  face  to  face, 
as  a  man  speaketh  unto  hisfriend."  "  The  secret 
of  the  Lord  is  with  them  that  fear  Him." 

From  this  blessed  friendship  arises  joyftibiess 
in  death.  Because  He  lives  we  shall  live  also. 
Whosoever  liveth  and  believeth  in  Him  can  never 
die.  When  death  came  to  the  family  of  Bethany, 
whose  home  was  His  home,  Christ  said,  "  Our 
friend  Lazarus  sleepeth  :  but  1  go  that  I  may 
awake  him  out  of  sleep."  All  His  friends  sleep, 
sleep  in  Him  ;  but  they  will  be  awaked  out  of 
sleep  by  Him.  They  leave  other  friends :  but 
they  go  to  a  closer  union    and    friendship  with 


CHRIST    THK    CONFIDING    FRIEND.  137 

Him.  He  will  never  leave  nor  forsake  them. 
This  world  is  His  :  the  other  world  is  still  more 
His,  for  it  has  fuller  revelations  of  Him,  and  the 
things  which  are  not  known  of  Him  here  are 
known  of  Him  there.  When  then  we  draw  near 
to  our  departure  it  need  not  be  with  any  gloom 
or  sorrow,  but  with  the  joyful  anticipation  of  the 
new  meeting  of  friend  with  friend. 

To  such  friendship,  so  full  of  all  best  privileges 
and  immunities,  are  we  called.  When  wegather 
at  the  Lord's  table,  it  is  the  table  of  One  who  has 
called  us  friends  ;  and  therefore  are  we  there. 
He  meets  us  as  we  come,  and  says,  "  Eat,  O 
friends:  drink,  O  beloved."  These  symbols  are  the 
pledges  of  the  best  friendship  that  this  world  has 
known.  It  is  a  friendship  that  sanctifies  all  other 
friendships.  It  is  a  friendship  that  survives  all 
other  friendships.  It  is  a  friendship  that  glori- 
fies all  who  are  admitted  to  it. 

Blessed  are  we  if  we  value  our  calling  ;  if  we 
adhere  to  Christ ;  if  through  changes  and  through 
conflicts  and  trials  we  hold  on  with  unfaltering 
constancy  to  the  hand  of  our  dearest  Friend  ! 
For  that  hand  will  surely  lead  us  home. 


XII. 

CHRIST    IN    SYMPATHY     WITH     THE     SORROWING. 

HREE  times  the  Son  of  Man  is  repre- 
sented as  in  tears.  We  cannot  think  of 
Him  as  in  a  light  or  trivial  mood.  He 
was  here  on  serious,  earnest,  burdensome  busi- 
ness. Undoubtedly  He  wore  an  expression  of 
calm  happiness  as  well  as  of  intense  sympathy. 
The  joy  with  which  children  sprang  to  His  em- 
brace indicates  His  loving  and  pleasant  look.  He 
was  an  invited  guest  at  a  marriage  festival  of  those 
who  knew  Him,  where  His  cheerful  presence 
gave  to  the  blessed  estate  an  uncommon  bene- 
diction. He  closed  His  most  tender  parable 
with  the  sentiment,  "  It  was  meet  to  make  merry 
and  be  glad  :  for  this  thy  brother  was  dead,  and 
is  alive  again  :  and  was  lost,  and  is  found."  The 
poor  and  distressed  ever  came  to  Him  with  hope 
and  confidence  :  were  attached  to  Him,  and  not 
repulsed  by  any  look  of  His.  It  was  only  willful 
sinners  who  could  not  bear  His  majestic  holiness. 
We  may  believe  that  the  multitudes  who 
thronged  around  Him  were  won  by  a  tenderness 
which  touched  their  deepest  sensibilities  and  by 
a  divine  winsomeness  which  was  a  reflection  of 
His  own  heavenly  glory  and  bliss. 

[139] 


l-iO  Till!;   MoDKL    LIFE. 

But  three  times  he  is  represented  as  a  man  of 
sorrows  and  acquainted  with  grief,  as  the  weep- 
ing Christ. 

The  first  was  in  His  sympathetic  grief  and 
tender  friendsliip  for  His  friends,  Martha  and 
Mary,  when  their  brotiier  Lazarus  had  died. 

The  second,  was  in  His  deep  sorrow  for  Jeru- 
salem, when  from  the  Mount  of  Olives  He  looked 
down  upon  its  glory  and  thought  of  its  approach- 
ing (loom. 

The  third,  was  in  the  more  than  mortal  agony 
of  Gethsemane,  when  alone  He  sunk  under  the 
crushing  weight  of  the  burden  which  He  bore 
for  the  world. 

In  the  first  case,  there  was  the  silent  flow  of 
tears  as  He  walked  with  the  bereaved  sisters, 
who,  in  answer  to  His  question,  Where  have  ye 
laid  him,  had  replied.  Lord,  come  and  see. 

In  the  second  case,  it  was  with  loud  bursts  of 
grief  and  voices  of  lamentation  which  could  be 
heard  by  all  the  company  who  were  going  up 
with  Him  to  His  triumphal  cntr}-  into  that  city 
whose  fate  He  so  bewailed. 

In  the  third  case,  it  was  with  groans  and 
agonizing  cries,  when  in  agony  He  prayed  more 
earnestly  and  His  sweat  became  as  it  were  great 
drops  of  blood  falling  down  upon  the  ground. 

"Jesus  wept."  This  is  the  shortest  sentence 
of  Scripture,  but  it  holds  the  largest  meaning. 
It  stands  forth  in  the  narrative,  quite  by  itself,  as 
though  printed  in  letters  of  gold.     In  that  gospel 


SYMPATHY    WITH    THE    SOUKOWINO.  141 

which  most  fully  declares  the  divinity  of  Christ, 
was  brought  out  this  strongest  trait  of  His 
humanity.  Jesus  loved  Martha  and  Mary  and 
their  brother  Lazarus:  and  they  all  loved  Him 
with  devoted  affection.  Their  home  was  His 
home :  and  whenever  He  was  in  their  neighbor- 
hood He  knew  where  He  would  be  received 
with  the  wannest  welcome.  From  His  work 
in  the  gi^eat  and  wicked  city  He  enjo3'ed  the  re- 
tirement at  evening  in  this  quiet  home  of  Bethany 
and  among  these  loving  friends. 

On  a  missionary  tour,  He  received,  one  day,  a 
message  from  the  sisters.  Lord,  behold,  he  whom 
thou  lovest  is  sick.  When  He  reached  the  place 
he  had  been  in  the  tomb  four  days  already.  Very 
touching  was  His  meeting  with  the  bereaved 
sisters:  and  their  loneliness  and  loss,  and  the 
sorrowing  words  which  they  spoke  of  their 
brother,  and  the  trustful  words  which  they 
spoke  to  Christ,  reached  the  deepest  fountains 
of  His  sympathy,  and  when  He  saw  Mary  weep- 
ing and  the  friends  who  came  with  her  also 
weeping  and  wailing.  His  own  tears  flowed  in 
silence,  and  the  Jews  who  saw  it  said,  Behold, 
how  He  loved  him  ! 

It  is  a  new  revelation  of  Christ.  Miracles  had 
shown  His  power.  He  had  turned  water  into 
wine.  He  had  fed  thousands  with  a  few  barley 
loaves.  He  had  stilled  the  tempest  and  walked 
on  the  rocking  sea.  He  had  healed  the  sick, 
and    restored    speech    to    the    dumb,  and  given 


142  THE    MODEL    LIFE. 

sight  to  the  blind,  and  raised  the  dead  to  life. 
He  had  spoken  with  authority,  and  not  as  the 
scribes.  He  had  indicated,  by  great  words  and 
deeds.  His  title  to  a  supreme  divinity.  But  here 
in  His  deep  sympathy  with  beloved  friends  in 
their  sorrow  He  sliowed  how  strong  and  true 
was  His  humanity. 

That  scene  of  sadness  sanctifies  Christ  to  us  in 
all  our  sorrows.  We  have  not  an  High  Priest 
that  cannot  be  touched  with  the  feeling  of 
our  infirmities.  The  old  prophecy  was  fulfilled 
in  Him,  "  Surely  he  hath  borne  our  griefs  and 
carried  our  sorrows."  All  our  bodily  ills,  all  our 
mental  anguish,  are  within  His  tender  S3nipath3' 
and  His  sufficient  help.  When  He  was  here, 
it  is  told  of  Him  that  "  He  healed  ail  that  were 
sick,"  so  that  the  old  word  was  made  true, 
''  Himself-took  our  infirmities,  and  bare  our  dis- 
eases." And  what  He  was  while  on  earth,  that 
is  He  now  in  the  heavens,  where  He  keeps 
the  names  of  all  who  love  Him.  In  every  sick 
room  He  is  present,  more  sympathetic  than  an}'^ 
of  His  ministers,  greater  to  heal  than  any  physi- 
cian. With  you  He  watches  the  slow  ebbing 
of  the  life  of  one  in  whom  30ur  life,  all  the 
happiness  of  your  life,  is  bound.  The  stealthy 
progress  of  fatal  disease  is  within  His  cogniz- 
ance, and  He  ministers  to  the  sick  out uf  the  full- 
ness of  His  grace.  You  have  seen  how  the  sick 
rij)en  in  character,  mature  in  all  lovelv  graces, 
get  the  expression  of   heaven  on  their  faces,  and 


SYMPATHY    WITH    Tni<:    SORROWING.  14.'{ 

the  disposition  of  heaven  in  their  souls.  You 
have  seen  how  those  who  naturally  had  a  strong 
fear  of  death,  to  which  they  were  in  bondage  all 
their  life-time,  have  overcome  all  dread  of  that 
cold  stream  through  which  our  feet  must  pass  and 
have  come  to  anticipate  with  calm  serenity  the 
time  when  they  should  be  summoned  from  home 
and  friends  and  all  the  endearments  of  this  life. 
You  have  seen  the  moral  sublimity  of  that  vic- 
tory which  has  issued  in  immortality,  when  the 
songs  of  Paradise  have  rung  in  earthly  homes,  and 
the  angels  have  come  down  to  be  the  convoy  of 
the  spirit  released  from  the  flesh. 

You  have  seen  how  the  old  could  joyfully 
abandon  that  to  which  they  had  become  used 
throughout  a  lifetime,  and  how  the  young  in  the 
full  flush  of  anticipation  could  give  up  all  that 
they  had  fondly  looked  forward  to  that  they 
might  obey  the  call  to  come  up  higher.  All 
this  is  of  Christ.  He  whose  silently  flowing  tears 
were  mingled  with  those  of  Mary  and  Martha, 
has  come  with  his  tender  sympathy  to  the  sick 
room  and  the  dying  bed,  and  has  wrought  the 
patience  of  hope  and  the  cheer  of  triumph  in  the 
souls  that  he  was  fitting  to  dwell  with  Him. 
And  after  the  blow  has  fallen  ;  after  the  house- 
hold has  lost  its  head  and  the  sister  is  plunged 
into  sadness  for  the  brother  who  is  no  more.  He 
comes  again  to  the  home  where  He  loved  to 
dwell  and  to  the  mourners  who  were  alwa}'s 
His  friends,  and  says,  *'  I    am    the    resurrection 


144:  THE    MODEL    LIFE. 

and  the  life;  he  that  believeth  in  me,  though  he 
die,  yet  shall  he  live;  and  whosoever  liveth  and 
believeth  in  me  shall  never  die.  Believest  thou 
this  ?"  And  then,  through  tears,  the  soul  turns 
to  Him  :  "I  have  believed  that  thou  art  the 
Christ,  the  Son  of  God."  The  tears  of  the  Son 
of  man  give  revelation  to  the  Son  of  God.  In 
every  darkened  home  sits  one  with  a  form  like 
that  of  the  Son  of  God.  With  every  Mary  and 
Martha,  with  every  sorrowing  group  on  the  way 
to  the  grave,  walks  one  who  can  say,  and  will  say, 
to  the  dead,  Come  forth.  He  mourns  witli  every 
mourner.     "  Jesus  wept." 

We  pass  to  the  second  instance. 

*'  And  when  He  drew  nigh,  He  saw  the  city, 
and  wept  over  it."  The  Greek  language 
expresses  here,  what  our  English  tongue  does 
not,  a  difference  between  this  weeping  and  the 
weeping  at  the  grave  of  Lazarus.  There  it  is 
edocHftvffev,  from  the  verb  to  shed  tears  :  here  it 
is  i'uXavGsy,  from  the  verb  to  wail,  implying  not 
only  the  shedding  of  tears,  but  also  every 
external  expression  of  grief.  Accompanied  by 
a  great  multitude  of  His  disciples,  our  Lord  had 
left  Bethany  for  a  triumphal  entry  into 
Jerusalem,  two  miles  awa}'.  As  the  procession 
gained  the  summit  of  the  Mount  of  Olives,  the 
renowned  city  of  the  world  lay  in  grand 
panorama  before  them.  Ever}'  spire  sprung  to 
the  glittering  sky,  and  the  golden  roof  and  the 
white  marble  of  the  temple  and  of  palaces  shone 


SYMPATHY    WITH    THE    SORROWING.  145 

in  the  glory  of  morning  sunshine.  On  the 
whole  earth  there  was  then  no  such  sight  as 
that.  The  temple  was  the  wonder  of  all  lands. 
Old  associations  made  Jerusalem  the  one  sacred 
city.  There  Almighty  God  had  enthroned  His 
worship  and  revealed  His  glory. 

Yet  that  city,  proud  and  glorious,  was  now 
about  to  reject  Christ,  its  Messiah,  once  and 
(orever. 

He  was  coming  to  it  with  His  divine  love, 
with  His  offers  of  salvation,  to  make  it  a 
perpetual  praise  and  a  joy  to  the  whole  earth. 
But  He  foresaw  the  melancholy  result — His 
betrayal,  trial,  mocking,  crucifixion.  From  the 
Mount  of  Olives  He  saw  on  another  mount  a 
^ross,  and  for  Him.  He  saw  also  the  end,  the 
pitiful  doom,  for  the  city:  how  another  wall,  of 
Roman  besiegers,  should  be  built  outside  its 
wall ;  how  those  unconquered  legions  of  the 
world's  mistress  should  surround  it;  how  the 
children  within  it  should  be  dashed  to  death  ; 
liow  its  strong  ramparts  should  be  leveled  and 
be  buried  as  they  are  to-day  twenty  feet  under 
ground  ;  and  how,  alas  !  all  this  temporal  ruin 
should  be  the  prophecy  of  an  eternal  ruin  for 
the  souls  of  its  people. 

Before,  at  the  grave.  He  had  wept  in  silence. 
Here,  over  the  doomed  city.  He  wept  in  loud 
lamentation.  Before,  he  wept  ior  oihtrs'  sorrow. 
Here,  He  wept  for  others'  sin. 


14:6  THK    MODEL    LIFE. 

And  as  much  as  sin  is  <^reater  and  sadder  tliaii 
sorrow,  so  greater  and  deeper  was  his  grief. 

It  was  the  sin  of  Jerusalem  which  caused  this 
profound  sorrow  of  the  Son  of  Man.  It  would 
be  cast  down  from  its  worldly  throne.  The  wor- 
ship of  its  temple  would  be  obliterated.  A  curse 
would  rest  on  its  people. 

Years  after  its  overthrow,  an  attempt  was 
made  to  rebuild  it,  but  fires  burst  forth  from  its 
foundations  and  drove  the  builders  awa3\  It 
was  doomed. 

Wherever  there  is  sin  there  is  a  sorrowing 
Saviour.  He  brings  the  blessings  of  His  salva- 
tion to  guilty  men.  They  are  free  to  accept  or 
to  reject  them.  But  if  they  decide  to  reject, 
there  is  One  who  weeps  for  them,  if  they  do 
not  for  themselves.  His  compassionate  sorrow 
follows  them  to  the  end. 

He  has  a  heart  of  love  for  even  His  enemies. 
He  would  not  have  them  to  be  lost.  He  knows 
the  bitterness  of  sin's  end,  the  remedilessness  of 
the  sinner's  overthrow.  His  mind  goes  on  beyond 
the  present,  where  their  minds  stop,  into  the 
future  with  its  certain  misery,  with  its  hopeless 
and  endless  sorrow.  He  knows  the  meaning  of 
hell,  the  terrible  vvoe  of  being  lost,  the  dreadful 
society  of  devils,  the  utter  anguish  of  final 
despair.  He  looks  beyond  thoughtless  life, 
beyond  the  gloom  of  death,  beyond  the  sentence 
of  banishment,  into  the  countless  ages  of  the 
soul's    wretchedness,    into  the  unbroken    ioneli- 


SYMPATHY    WITH    THE    SORROWING.  147 

ness  and  sorrow  of  a  world  on  which  no  day- 
light rises,  in  which  no  glad  song  is  heard,  where 
are  no  greetings  of  friendship,  throughout  whose 
gloomy  boundaries  no  gospel  is  heard  forever- 
more.  He  knows  the  facts  of  the  case,  and  appre- 
ciates them.  His  eyes  overflow  with  tears  as 
He  looks  on  any  unrepentant  sinner.  His  heart 
breaks  with  sorrow,  as  He  feels  for  any  penitent 
rejector  of  His  grace.  You  laugh  your  life 
away.  But  on  Olivet  stands  one  who  laments  your 
folly  and  presumption.  You  squander  your 
golden  opportunities.  But  a  divine  Saviour, 
with  unsounded  pathos,  mourns  for  your  wretch- 
ed choice.  Over  you,  as  over  miserable  Jerusa- 
lem, He  laments,  in  words,  which  like  minor 
music,  have  sobbed  through  the  centuries,  say- 
ing:  If  thou  hadst  known,  even  thou,  in  this 
day,  the  things  which  belong  unto  thy  peace  ! 
but  now  they  are  hid  from  thine  eyes.  He 
laments  your  spiritual  blindness  :  sees  how  Satan 
is  leading  you  blindfold  to  a  ruin  whose  mourn- 
fulness  mocks  all  thought :  and  though  He 
would  save  you,  understands  that  you  know  not 
the  time  of  your  visitation. 

Do  we  so  weep  for  sinners?  We  do  not  know 
when  the  fatal  line  is  passed.  We  do  not  know 
when  the  last  hour  of  hope  has  sounded.  We 
do  not  know  when  the  eye  is  glazed  forever. 
We  do  not  know  when  the  hardening  of  the 
heart  has  progressed  to  the  last  extremit3^  We 
do  not  know   when  the   candidacy   for   hell  has 


148  THK    MODEF,    I.IPK. 

ripened  into  reprobation.  We  hope,  and  hope, 
and  hope  on. 

We  pass  to  the  tliird  instance. 

It  is  described  in  the  Epistle  to  the  Hebrews. 
"  Who  in  the  days  of  His  flesh,  having  offered 
up  prayers  and  supplications  with  strong  crying 
and  tears  unto  Him  that  was  able  to  save 
Him  from  death."  This  refers  to  His  experience 
in  Gethsemane.  Into  that  lonely  garden  He  had 
retired,  leaving  eight  apostles  just  outside  its 
boundary,  taking  three  apostles  into  its  recesses, 
and  then  going  alone  into  the  still  deeper  shadow 
of  its  olive  trees.  We  do  not  know  what  that 
experience  was.  Words  are  poor  to  describe  it. 
There  were  no  human  witnesses  of  it.  I  give 
now  the  language  of  Scripture.  He  began 
to  be  sorrowful  and  sore  troubled.  He  said, 
*'  My  soul  is  exceeding  sorrowful,  even  unto 
death."  He  fell  on  the  ground,  and  prayed  that 
if  it  were  possible  the  hour  might  pass  away 
from  Him.  He  said,  "  Father,  remove  this  cup 
from  me  ;  howbeit,  not  what  I  will,  but  what  thou 
wilt."  "  And  there  appeared  unto  Him  an  angel 
from  heaven,  strengthening  Him.  And  being 
in  an  agony  He  prayed  more  earnestly,  and  His 
sweat  became  as  it  were  great  drops  of  blood 
falling  down  upon  the  ground." 

In  this  loneliness  and  sorrow,  with  strong  cr}-- 
ing  and  tears,  was  the  experience  of  the  Saviour 
in  the  work  of  our  redemption.  The  sins  of  the 
world    were  upon  Him.     It  was  more  than  He 


STMPATFIY    WITH    THE    SORROWING.  149 

could  bear  alone.  It  was  not  the  agony  of 
death:  that  came  later,  upon  the  cross.  It  was 
the  agony  of  soul.  It  was  more  than  death.  It 
was  bearing  the  death  of  all  sinners.  Tlie  agony 
of  Gethsemane  was  a  part  of  the  passion  which 
culminated  on  Calvary. 

It  was  the  prepai^ation  for  the  cross. 

You  that  have  eyes  can  see  Him  there. 

You  that  have  ears  can  hear  His  mournful 
sorrow. 

You  that  have  hearts  can  feel  some  sympathy 
for  that  Sufferer,  who  is  more  than  man,  who  is 
suffering  for  you  ! 

Out  of  those  dismal  shadows  breaks  the 
voice  of  piteous  petition,  crying  to  God  for 
relief.  The  voice  that  hushed  the  turbulence  of 
storms,  that  bid  the  dead  come  forth  from  tombs, 
there  trembles  in  anguish,  in  cries  almost  of  des- 
pair. Dimly  there,  now  on  His  knees  with  hands 
uplifted  to  the  frowning  skies,  then  prone  on 
the  cold  earth  in  writhing  sufTering,  is  the  form 
that  entered  the  door  of  Mary  and  Martha  with 
benediction,  that  stood  among  the  gathered 
multitudes  as  the  representative  of  heavenly 
blessings.  A  strong  angel,  swiftly  flying  from 
the  appalled  heavens,  lifts  up  the  wounded  man 
of  sorrows,  and  girds  Him  with  the  strength 
of  God.  Yet  it  is  only  that  He  may  pray  more 
earnestly.  The  paroxysm  of  agony  returns  upon 
Hini  with   redoubled   force  and  He   is  covered 


150  THE    MODEL    LIFE. 

with  drops  of  blood  which  fall  down  upon  the 
ground. 

It  is  the  cost  of  sin.  It  is  the  burden  of  our 
woe  that  crushes  Him.  It  is  expiation  for  us 
that  rends  Him  with  such  frightful  torture. 
The  cup  which  belonged  to  us  to  drink  is  that 
which  could  not  be  removed  from  his  sinless  lips. 
His  strong  crying  and  tears  measure  our  release 
from  a  pitiless  doom. 

These  are  the  three  instances  of  the  tears  of 
Chi'ist  :  Bet  Jinny,  Olivet,  mournful  Gethsematie. 
Tears  of  silent  sympath}'  :  voiceful  lamentations 
over  a  sinful  city:  strong  cries  of  agony  under 
the  burden  of  the  world's  redemption. 

Tears  for  your  sorrow  :  tears  for  your  sin  ; 
tears  for  your  salvation  :  tears  that  you  might 
weep  not  in  vain  :  tears  that  you  may  weep 
nevermore  again  ;  that  you  may  be  of  those  for 
whom  God  "  shall  wipe  away  every  tear  from 
their  eyes."  Sorrow  you  will  have.  This  world 
is  a  "  vale  of  tears."  Sacred  circles  must  be 
broken.  Disappointed  hopes,  loncdiness,  want, 
grief,  these  are  the  terms  of  human  life. 

With  all  that  is  joyous;  with  the  sweetness  of 
blessed  friendship  :  with  the  exuberance  of  3'outh 
and  the  calm  dcliglit  of  age  ;  with  the  charm  of 
music  and  the  ministr}-  of  art  and  the  solace  of 
truth  :  there  must  be  the  sorrow  of  partings  and 
the  sense  of  loss.  Sometime  we  shall  walk  alone. 
Somewhere  we  shall  know  our  weakness. 


SYMPATHY     WITH     THE     SORROWING.  151 

We  shall  need  Him  who  mingled  His  sorrow 
with  that  of  the  sisters  of  Bethany. 

Sin  is  a  present  and  a  gloomy  reality.  It 
taints  our  blood  ;  it  spoils  the  fair  earth  ;  it 
forces  on  us  the  curse  of  God.  From  it  there 
would  be  no  relief,  no  redemption,  were  it  not 
for  the  sympathy  and  the  sorrow  and  the  suffer- 
ing of  the  Son  of  God.  He  who  looked  down 
from  Olivet  on  sinful  Jerusalem  with  loud 
laments  for  its  folly  and  its  guilt,  is  equally 
moved  in  our  behalf.  He  discerns  the  day  of 
our  visitation.  And  now,  while  the  offer  of  His 
salvation  is  open,  and  while  we  have  the  oppor- 
tunity to  repent  and  believe  and  be  saved,  He 
would  have  us  fly  to  the  shelter  of  His  cross,  to 
the  welcome  of  His  arms. 

Learn  these  melancholy  lessons  of  the  Sav- 
iour's sorrow.  Walk  with  Him  to  the  tomb  of 
Bethany.  Stand  among  the  rejoicing  multi- 
tude on  the  summit  of  the  Mount  of  Olives, 
hushed  by  the  sorrows  of  their  Lord.  And, 
then,  enter  the  shadows  of  sad  Gethsemane. 

And  let  our  hearts  be  broken,  with  fullest 
gratitude,  with  deepest  repentance. 


XIII. 

CHRIST   THE   ZEALOUS   LEADER. 

HE  great  artists  have  chosen  for  their  im- 
mortal works  the  impressive  events  in 
the  life  of  Christ.  The  great  galleries 
of  older  lands  contain  nothing  so  attractive  as 
the  pictures  which  represent  to  us  the  Lord. 
The  holy  cathedrals  are  made  more  sacred  by 
those  unrivaled  paintings  which  set  forth  the 
life  and  the  d3'ing  of  Him  for  whose  glory  the 
temple  itself  was  reared.  Scenes  in  nature  are 
subordinate  to  the  Author  of  nature.  Repre- 
sentations of  the  greatest  human  achievements 
cannot  rival  those  which  relate  to  Him  in  whom 
all  men  live.  No  pastoral  scene  so  moves  our 
hearts  as  the  sacrifice  of  the  Lamb  who  was  slain 
for  our  sins.  Before  every  leader  is  He  who 
leads  the  race  from  their  dreadful  bondage  out 
into  the  liberty  of  the  sons  of  God.  Christ's 
work  is  foremost.  Christ's  person  stands  out  in 
unrivaled  prominence.  Sacred  and  high  art 
can  select  nothing  which  will  live  in  the  life  of  the 
ages  like  the  undimmed  deeds  and  the  eventful 
experiences  of  the  Lord.  Men  sweep  across  the 
stage  as  in  a  drama  :  and  the  results  of  their  life- 
work  pass   into   oblivion.     But   the   divine    Re- 

[153] 


loi  THE    MODEL    LIFE. 

deemcr  moves  on  in  unclianging  pre-eminence,the 
foremost  figure  of  the  world's  marvelous  history, 
the  head  of  a  kingdom  whose  progress  widens 
with  the  centuries  and  whose  power  augments 
from  age  to  age  as  its  conquests  include  more 
hearts  and  divers  nationalities. 

One  scene  has  been  wrought  by  the  hand  of  a 
great  Master,  into  an  impressive  picture,  which, 
once  seen,  cannot  be  forgotten.  It  is  in  the  open 
way  of  the  country  of  Galilee  on  a  roadside 
leading  to  Jerusalem,  that  city  of  joy  and  of 
glory  to  which  all  the  tribes  went  up  for  their 
national  festivals,  that  a  striking  group  of  stal- 
wart men  are  represented  as  walking  forward. 
One  among  them  is  a  Leader  and  a  teacher.  He 
had  been  telling  them  in  His  wonderful  way  of 
the  great  things  of  His  kingdom  and  of  Himself, 
so  that  they  were  "  astonished  at  His  words," 
so  that  "  they  were  astonished  out  of  measure." 
As  they  went  forward,  as  they  drew  nearer  to 
the  time  and  the  place  of  His  sufferings,  a  kind 
of  sublime  enthusiasm  possesses  Him  ;  and  He 
moves  in  rapt  and  absorbed  devotion,  and  with 
quickened  step,  to  the  front  of  the  company,  as 
though  hastening  to  the  sacrifice  !  A  holy  light 
kindles  His  whole  countenance  and  His  entire 
person  assumes  an  air  of  majesty. 

As  they  look  upon  Him  they  sec  the  Divinity 
that  is  in  Him  registering  itself  in  every  ex- 
pression and  every  step.  It  is  more  than  an 
intrepid  leader  who  is  marshaling  them  for  the 


CHRIST  THE  ZEALOUS  LEADER.         155 

trial.  It  is  the  God  in  Christ!  "And  Jesus 
went  before  them."  They  are  awed  by  the 
sight.  It  is  a  new  revehition  of  their  Master. 
They  do  not  know  Him  yet.  They  are  begin- 
ning to  comprehend  the  wonderful  faculties  of 
their  divine  Leader.  They  feel  how  far  He  is 
above  them.  Dim  dawnings  of  the  truth  of 
which  He  has  long  taught  them  flash  and  lighten 
in  their  minds. 

"  And  they  were  amazed  ;  and  as  they  followed 
they  were  afraid."  It  was  not  the  fear  of  the 
result.  It  was  the  aive  of  Him  that  was  upon 
them.  They  were  walking  now  in  the  footsteps 
of  one  whom  they  could  not  fathom  :  on  whom 
were  the  signals  of  divinity  :  the  mystery  of 
whose  Being  and  whose  work  He  was  evidently 
leading  them  to  the  quick  solution  of.  He  could 
not  wait.  A  holy  passion  was  burning  within 
Him,  preparatory  to  the  great  final  passion. 
The  world  was  waiting  to  be  saved  :  He  would 
hasten  to  its  salvation.  One  over  mastering 
purpose  controlled  all  others,  absorbed  all 
thoughts,  all  plans,  all  friendships,  and  in  the 
strength  of  it  He  moved  right  forward,  leading 
His  disciples  and  leaving  to  them  the  impressive 
memory  of  His  sublime  and  courageous  devo- 
tion. 

I  have  thought  that  in  this  scene  on  the  high- 
way of  Galilee  we  might  get  the  suggestion  of 
what  Jesus  is  and  is  to  be  to  us  on  many  paths: 
of  what  He  is  ?is going  before  His  people. 


156  THK   MODEL    LIFE. 

So  we  come  to  The  Antecedence  of  Christ. 

His  footsteps  are  foregoing  in  the  ways  of  our 
human  life.  It  is  pleasant  to  think  that  Christ 
has  been  here.  There  is  a  pcciih'ar  charm  in 
the  places  that  have  been  associated  with  the 
daily  lives  of  good  great  men.  We  like  to  feel, 
as  we  visit  the  homes  and  the  haunts  of  such, 
here  dwelt  the  great  scholar,  the  thrilling  singer, 
the  devoted  patriot,  the  earnest  saint.  On 
these  paths  he  often  walked  :  in  these  bowers  he 
refreshed  himself.  We  are  sitting  in  the  seat  he 
occupied.  We  are  looking  on  the  beautiful 
objects  which  feasted  his  siglit.  Out  of  the  rich 
couit  of  Magdalen  College  at  Oxford,  by  the 
banks  of  the  little  Cherwell  and  under  shadowy 
old  trees,  is  a  walk  which  is  still  called 
"  Addison's  walk."  There  he  loved  to  go.  At 
Forest  Hill  near  Oxford,  where  Milton  lived,  one 
feels,  these  are  the  very  paths  on  which  the  great 
Puritan  scholar  and  poet  walked  :  tiiese  are  the 
charming  scenes  on  which  he  gazed  and  from 
which  he  caught  his  inspiration.     As  he  sings: 

"  Straight  mine  eye  hath  caught  new  pleasures, 
Whilst  the  landscape  round  it  measures." 

At  Lincoln  College  are  the  very  rooms  where 
John  Wesley  studied.  Helvellyn  is  to  the  scholar 
another  Parnassus  because  he  feels  as  he  climbs 
its  steeps  that  the  feet  of  Scott  and  Wordsworth 
and  Southey  in  company  have  walked  there  be- 


CHRIST  THE  ZEALOUS  LEADER.        151 

fore  him.  The  chair  of  Calvin  is  still  preserved 
in  the  pulpit  where  he  preached.  The  oak  still 
grows  on  the  spot  where  Luther  burned  the 
Papal  bull.  The  world  is  full  of  such  associations. 
The  world  is  made  holier  and  lovelier  by  them. 
We  are  held  to  it  the  stronger  because  these 
worthy  ones  have  had  their  experience  in  it. 
And  if  this  is  so  of  our  fellow-men  how  much 
stronger  and  dearer  the  impression  from  the  an- 
tecedence of  Christ  in  it!  He  has  been  here. 
He  has  dwelt  among  us.  He  has  walked  on  these 
ways.  He  has  looked  upon  these  scenes.  He 
hasfelt  the  throb  and  stir  and  glow  of  this  human 
life.  The  Son  of  God  has  been  the  Son  of  man. 
It  is  not  a  difficult  tiling,  as  it  seems  to  me,  to 
accept  the  Dlvviity  of  Christ:  I  have  more  sym- 
pathy with  those  who  fail  to  comprehend  His 
full  humanity.  His  whole  life  is  crowded  with 
the  incontestable  proofs  that  He  was  more 
than  man.  Divinity  flames  in  speech  and  act 
and  impressive  presence ;  in  the  unrepressed 
witness  of  evil  spirits  and  the  joyful  voices  of 
angels;  in  the  subordination  of  nature  and  in  the 
decisive  testimony  of  the  Father.  Yet  He  was 
also  man,  with  a  human  body  and  a  reasonable 
soul.  It  behooved  Him  to  be  made  like  imto  His 
brethren.  He  was  born  as  we  are  born.  He 
grew  in  stature  and  in  wisdom.  His  childhood 
was  under  the  conditions  of  tutelage  and  obedi- 
ence. His  manhood  was  tested  by  temptation 
and  discipline    and  the  variety  of   earthly  trial. 


158  TlIK    MODEL    LIFK. 

He  was  nol  lifted  above  the  lot,  nor  shielded 
from  the  vicissitudes,  of  our  mortal  life.  Even 
the  divinity,  with  which  His  humanity  was  in- 
timately associated,  did  not  so  hedge  Him  round 
that  He  did  not  feel  as  we  feel,  rejoicing  in  the 
things  in  which  we  rejoice  and  saddened  by  the 
things  that  bring  us  sorrow.  On  all  the  ways  of 
our  human  life  His  blessed  footsteps  are  fore- 
going. Everywhere  we  may  say,  Jesus  has  been 
here  before  us.  The  prints  of  His  feet  are  on 
the  earth.  He  walked  here  as  a  man  before  us. 
He  had  a  human  body  and  it  was  susceptible  to 
the  influences  which  act  upon  us.  A  day  of 
hard  labor  or  long  travel  brought  to  Him  weari- 
ness. He  experienced  physical  exhaustion,  and  He 
gained  restoration  from  sleep  and  quietness  and 
the  ministry  of  attentive  friendship.  He  was 
sensitive  to  pain.  The  thorn  that  wounds  us 
wounded  Him,  The  blow  that  would  make  our 
nerves  quiver  shocked  all  the  sensibilities  of 
His  refined  organism.  The  nail,  the  spear,  met 
acutest  response  to  their  dreadful  wounding. 
His  body  was  alive  at  every  point;  every  fibre 
was  charged  with  intensest  sensitiveness.  His 
eye  reveled  in  the  loveliness  of  the  lily  and  the 
glories  of  the  western  sky.  His  responsive  ear 
caught  the  majestic  music  of  nature  and  thrilled 
at  the  matchless  songs  of  birds.  He  was  in 
quick  sympathy  with  nature.  He  saw  more  in 
its  manifold  moods  and  its  wondrous  vestures 
and    its    beaming  glories  than   our  feebler   vis- 


CHEisT  THE  Zealous   leader.  159 

ion  can  discern.  While  He  suffered  more  He 
also  enjoyed  more.  His  whole  bodily  system 
and  nature  were  attuned  to  finer  harmonies  and 
to  keener  pangs  than  belong  to'men.  So  He  was 
Leader  of  all,  ranking  all,  preeminent  among 
them,  above  them,  as  before  them. 

He  had  also  a  human  mind.  His  intellectual 
faculties  were  developed  by  observation  and 
study  and  experience.  He  grew  in  wisdom. 
His  feelings  were  powerfully  acted  upon  by  what 
He  saw  of  human  conduct  and  by  what  He  knew 
of  the  inevitable  and  far-reaching  results  of 
actions.  His  pitiful  lament  for  human  weakness 
and  wretchedness,  sounds  like  the  voice  of  a 
brother  in  his  agony.  His  heart  is  almost 
broken.  While  His  passions  flamed  with  a  holy 
indignation  against  sinners  who  were  bold  and 
bad  in  their  iniquity.  He  was  touched  by  the 
world's  great  sorrows,  which  surged  in  upon 
His  great  nature  like  waves,  moaning  and  broken. 
To  all  the  afflicted  He  was  a  friend.  It  was  a  joy 
to  Him  that  by  His  power,  He  could  rescue  from 
death  the  son  of  a  lonely  widow,  and  give  him 
back  to  his  mother:  that  He  could  heal  the  sick  : 
that  He  could  restore  the  lame  and  comfort  the 
distressed,  and  be  the  Healer  of  the  world's 
wounds. 

His  whole  life  was  controlled  by  the  overmas- 
tering purpose  to  be  about  His  Father's  business 
and  for  the  glory  of  God  to  save  the  world. 
Temptations  came.     The    worldly  and  even  the 


160  THE   MODEL    LIFE. 

Satanic  appeal  was  made  to  Him  :  but  He  had 
no  vulnerable  point.  There  was  no  jcjint  in  the 
harness  that  panoplied  the  Son  of  God.  His  whole 
mind  and  soul  and  strength  were  enlisted  in  the 
one  work  that  he  had  to  do.  He  went  before 
all  His  followers  in  His  mental  devotion  to  His 
absorbing  and  loving  service.  The  mind  that 
was  in  Christ  should  be  in  all  of  us.  Over  the 
w'orld's  claims  and  all  the  demands  of  friendship 
and  ambition  and  business,  should  be  the  one 
claim  of  the  race  to  be  saved.  For  this  should 
be  the  expenditure  of  choicest  tliought,  the  quick- 
ening of  intensest  feeling  and  the  devotion  of 
solemn,  sacramental  purpose. 

Christ  had  also  a  hiivian  experience.  He  was 
made  like  unto  His  brethren.  He  was  a  member 
of  a  certain  family.  His  voice  uttered  the  dear 
names  of  father  and  mother  and  brother  and 
sister.  He  loved  and  was  loved.  There  were 
those  whom  He  called  preeminently  His  friends. 
Love  and  devotion  and  sympathy  were  dear  to 
Him.  After  days  of  wearing  toil  and  peril,  He 
eagerly  sought  the  home  at  Bethany  and  was  re- 
freshed in  its  peace  and  rest  and  loving  hearts 
and  hands.  In  the  coldness  and  desertion  of  the 
world,  He  turned  with  longing  tenderness  to 
His  disciples,  with  the  question,  "  Will  ye  also 
go  away  ?"  He  reached  out  for  comfort  and 
support.  Having  loved  His  own  which  were 
in  the  world  He  loved  them  unto  the  end. 

He  felt  also  the  might  and  woe  of  trials.     He 


CHRIST   THE    ZEALOUS     LEADER.  161 

was  despised  and  rejected  by  those  whom  He  came 
to  save.  He  was  abandoned  and  betrayed  by  one 
whom  He  had  called  into  his  own  family.  Though 
He  had  entered  Jerusalem  as  a  King,  He  was  led 
out  of  it  as  a  malefactor.  So  honor  and  shame, 
joy  and  pain,  love  and  cruelty,  were  mingled  in 
His  human  experience.  In  it  all  He  went  before 
His  people,  in  their  varied  and  mingled  experi- 
ence, I  might  make  this  more  personal  to  us  by 
saying  that  He  has  gone  before  each  one  of  us  in 
the  allotments  of  our  earthly  life.  We  have  a 
personal  experience:  we  walk  each  one  in  his 
own  way:  in  some  particular  in  a  different  way 
from  that  of  any  other.  Though  we  have  a  life 
that  is  common  to  our  fellows,  we  also  have  one 
that  is  luicommonand  particular.  While  we  are 
allied  to  our  brethren,  we  are  separated  from 
them.  They  cannot  know  all  that  we  know, 
nor  feel  all  that  we  feel.  But  we  are  not  sepa- 
rated from  Christ.  So  wide  was  His  experience, 
so  much  was  He  able  to  take  in  of  the  life  of 
men,  that  it  is  as  if  He  had  walked  on  every  way 
on  which  His  people  go.  And  I  venture  to 
believe  that  the  universal  thought  and  feeling  of 
all  Christians  in  the  manifold  ways  of  their  earthly 
life,  are,  that  Christ  has  been  there  before  them, 
so  that  they  can  state  their  case  to  Him  and  go 
to  Him  with  the  assurance  that  He  can  feel  for 
them,  (hat  He  has  known  something  of  it  by  his 
own  earthly  discipline,  as  though  He  had  walked 
on  that  very  path,  and  been   through   that  very 


102  THE    MODKL    LIFE. 

door,  and  left  His  blessed  footsteps  for  them  to 
walk  in. 

The  Lord  became  man.  The  Word  became 
flesh  and  dwelt  among  us.  Our  whole  life  gels 
its  deepest  significance  from  the  fact  that  this 
'  has  also  been  His  life.  We  look  on  the  world 
differently  when  we  think  of  it  as  sanctified  and 
glorified  by  the  life  of  its  Creator  upon  it.  We 
walk  with  greater  trust  and  firmer  hope  and  more 
abundant  joy  because  we  are  on  paths  where  the 
Lord,  our  Lord,  went  before  us. 

He  has  gone  before  us  in  the  way  of  Atonement. 
It  was  a  great  problem  to  solve,  how  sinful  men 
could  be  restored  to  favor  and  union  with  God. 
Probably  there  was  but  one  way  in  which  this 
might  be  ;  by  the  voluntar)'  sacrifice  of  the  Son 
of  God.  No  expedients  that  lay  within  the  con- 
ditions of  human  conduct  or  offering  could  have 
availed.  No  intervention,  as  of  angels,  could 
have  secured  the  needful  reconciliation.  On 
the  one  hand  man  was  lost.  The  fact  of  sin  was 
fatal.  It  could  not  be  overlooked.  It  could  not 
be  forgfiven.  The  interests  of  the  world  and  of 
other  worlds,  the  sanctity  of  the  divine  law  and 
its  claim  on  moral  beings,  required  satisfaction. 
God  alone  could  help.  He  who  was  injured, 
whose  authority  was  insulted,  was  the  only  being 
who  could  interpose  to  sustain  the  law  and  tt) 
save  the  sinner.  God  enduring  on  account  of 
sin  and  for  sin  ;  God  proving  in  His  own  person 
and  bv  His  own  suffering  the  worth  and  sanctity 


CHRIST  THE  ZEALOUS  LEADER.         163 

of  the  broken  law,  as  well  as  the  value  oi  the  lost 
soul  ;  would  make  atonement  possible. 

This  was  the  work  of  Christ.  He  went  for- 
ward to  meet  the  claims  of  this  necessity  :  going 
before  every  sinner  to  make  reconciliation  for 
him  with  God  possible:  leading  the  race  out  of 
bondage,  by  a  new  and  living  way,  He  came  to 
save  that  which  was  lost.  God  sent  His  Son  in- 
to the  world  that  the  world  through  Him  might 
be  saved.  Christ  hath  once  suffered  for  sins  that 
He  might  bring  us  to  God.  We  are  to  follow 
Him.  He  has  gone  before  us  on  this  way  of 
reconciliation.  He  has  suffered  that  we  may  be 
free  from  endless  suffering.  He  has  borne  the 
cross  that  the  burden  of  sin  may  be  lifted  from 
us.  He  died  upon  the  cross  that  we  might  gain 
everlasting  life. 

He  has  gone  before  us  into  the  heavenly  rewards. 
He  was  on  the  earth,  walking  before  His  people 
on  these  paths  of  earthly  experience,  at  last 
dying  to  open  the  way  of  Atonement.  But  His 
home  was  on  high.  His  enipty  throne  was 
waiting  for  the  King  to  return  and  to  receive 
His  own.  Praises  that  had  been  specially  for 
Him  had  been  hushed,  and  golden  harps,  during 
all  the  years  of  His  absence,  had  stood  silent 
and  unstrung.  His  course  on  earth  had  been 
eagerly  watched  by  angels  who  loved  and 
honored  Him  and  who  would  gladly  have  taken 
His  place  if  their  intervention  could  have 
availed.      Their     intense    interest    is    shown    by 


lf)4  TIIK    MODEL    IJFE. 

their  appearance  at  times  to  comfort  and 
strengthen  Him  in  the  terrible  sufferings  that 
He  underwent,  and  in  His  own  declaration  that 
legions  of  them  would  gladly  and  quickly  move 
to  His  rescue.  They  had  seen  the  final  act  and 
they  knew  that  He  was  to  return  on  high. 
"  For  Christ  is  entered  into  heaven  itself,  now  to 
appear  in  the  presence  of  God  for  us."  "  1  go," 
He  said  to  His  saddened  disciples,  "  to  prepare  a 
place  for  you,  and  I  will  come  again  and  receive 
you  unto  myself  that  where  I  am  there  ye  may 
be  also."  For  us  who  love  Him  and  before  us  He 
has  returned  to  His  home  and  His  throne  and 
His  Father.  "  Now  to  appear  in  the  presence 
of  God  for  us."  For  us  He  careth  there.  He 
has  a  work  for  us  there,  as  He  had  here.  Not 
till  the  last  redeemed  man  is  brought  salely 
within  the  heaven  that  contains  the  Lord  will  His 
thoughts  turn  awa}'  from  the  world  on  which  He 
achieved  salvation.  As  He  was  Redeemer,  He 
is  Intercessor.  He  presents  the  merits  of  His 
sacrifice  as  an  argument  and  a  reason  why  we 
should  be  saved.  He  stands  for  us,  in  His 
might  and  in  His  merits  and  in  His  mediation 
and  nothing  can  turn  away  the  Father's  favor, 
nothing  jan  pluck  us  out  of  the  Father's  hand. 
If  He  had  not  risen  from  the  dead  and  arisen  to 
heaven,  there  would  have  been  no  assurance  of 
(Hir  victory.  Now  the  bright  pathwav  on  which 
He  has  gone  up  is  open  for  us  and  we  shall  rise 
to  be  with  Him  where  He  is.     We  follow  where 


CflRlSt   THE    ZEALOtrS     LEADER.  165 

He  leads.  We  too  shall  appear  in  the  presence 
of  God,  "  whither  the  Forerunner,  Jesus,  is  for 
us  entered."  He  has  opened  the  way.  He  has 
prepared  the  place:  we  walk  in  His  footsteps 
and  reach  His  royal  home. 

Nor  does  even  this  end  His  leadership.  Among 
the  blessed  scenes  which  the  Scriptures  give  of 
the  heavenly  world,  of  the  happiness  and  rest  and 
royalty  of  the  saints,  is  this:  "For  the  Lamb, which 
is  in  the  midst  of  the  throne,  shall  feed  them  and 
shall  lead  them  unto  living  fountains  of  waters." 
The  Lamb  shall  lead  them.  Into  the  blessed 
scenes  of  that  radiant  and  glorious  world,  into 
its  everflowing  sources  of  happiness,  into  its  ex- 
alted and  happy  society,  into  its  service  which 
is  pleasure  and  its  pleasures  which  are  pure.  He 
shall  lead  them  who  led  them  throug^h  the  world 
and  led  them  to  heaven.  This  Leadership  is  eter- 
nal. His  dear  footsteps  will  be  forever  forego- 
ing. Those  who  have  followed  Him  on  earth 
will  follow  Him  in  heaven.  Those  who  have 
followed  Him  in  service  will  follow  Him  in  glory. 
Those  who  have  followed  Him  bearing-  crosses 
will  follow  Him  wearing  crowns.  The  Lamb 
shall  lead  them.  With  His  infinite  knowledge 
and  love  and  power,  with  His  control  of  all  the 
universe,  He  shall  lead  them  :  calling  them  all  by 
name,  owning  them  as  brethren,  rejoicing  to 
admit  them  to  heirship  with  Himself. 

There  have  been  great  leaders  of  men.     There 


U){j  THE  MODEL    LIFE. 

have  been  those,  from  time  to  time,  who  have 
outranked  their  fellow-nien  and  risen  by  the  vol- 
untary consent  of  others  to  thrones.  Their  high 
intelligence,  their  fine  capacity,  their  lordly  man- 
ners, their  noble  presence,  some  extraordinary 
qualit}',  dazzling  genius  or  executive  force  or 
magnetic  attraction,  have  invested  them  with 
command  or  preeminence  and  they  have  had  the 
following  of  nations  or  wider  communities,  or 
stood  at  the  head  of  the  world.  By  their  uncon- 
querable energy  or  steady  ambition  or  trusted 
goodness  the}^  have  led  forward  the  race  and 
left  their  names  as  a  heritage  or  a  talisman  to  the 
luture.  All  through  time  other  races  and  gener- 
ations are  roused  and  led  by  the  call  of  their 
great  names. 

But  there  has  been  no  Leader  like  the  Lord. 
When  Jesus  goes  before  it  is  wise  and  safe  to  fol- 
low. He  leads  out  of  difficulty  and  danger,  out 
of  sin  and  sorrow  ;  He  leads  through  the  world's 
temptations  and  trials  and  conflicts  ;  He  leads  to 
heaven's  glory  and  unceasing  joy  and  He  leads 
in  heaven  to  experiences  beyond  our  present 
thought  and  fancying,  to  scenes  full  of  beauty, 
and  to  truth  full  of  delight,  and  to  a  wealth  of 
satisfaction  which  will  only  augment  forever. 

Clearly  and  sweetly  then  upon  our  hearing 
falls  the  voice  of  Christ,  Follow  mc  !  Where  He 
goes  before  us  let  us  joyfully  follow. 

\ 

\ 


CHRIST   THE    ZEALOUS     LEADER.  167 

'  He  goes  before  !     And  so  we  may  not  look 
Backward  at  all,  but  onward  evermore  : 

Keeping  in  sight  the  blessed  path  He  took. 

Patient  to  bear  each  cross  He  meekly  bore  : 

Trusting  His  wisdom  in  the  darkest  hour  : 

O'ercoming  every  trial  through  His  power  !" 


THE  COMMEMORATIVE    FEAST. 
Typogravure— Rubens 


XIV. 

CHRIST  AT   THE   COMMEMORATIVE   FEAST. 


OUR  hundred  years  ago,  on  the  wall 
of  the  refectory  of  an  old  monastery  in 
Milan,  Leonardo  da  Vinci  painted  his 
great  picture  of  the  Last  Supper,  in  which,  al- 
though the  work  is  sadly  defaced  and  faded, 
may  still  be  recognized  the  majesty  and  solem- 
nity of  the  Master,  as  He  stated  to  the  agitated 
group  of  His  apostles  the  tragic  fact  of  his 
betrayal.  During  the  eventful  years  of  His 
earthly  ministry  they  had  shared  with  him  the 
trials  and  successes  of  His  wonderful  career: 
they  had  learned  something  of  the  greatness  of 
His  character  and  the  exaltedness  of  His  pur- 
pose and  the  depth  of  His  mercy  :  and  it  was 
with  intense  feeling  and  melancholy  apprehen- 
sion that  they  gathered  at  this  final  feast  with 
Him.  They  had  noticed  the  urgency  with 
which  He  had  approached  it,  the  importance 
which  He  had  attached  to  it,  the  careful  prepar- 
ation which  He  had  made  for  it.  Christian  art 
has  only  followed  Christian  thought  when  it 
wrought  its  most  renowned  works  in  commem- 

[169] 


170  THK    Mot)KL    LIFE. 

oration  of  an  event  which  was  to  be  perpetuated 
through  the  Christian  ages. 

The  very  first  words  of  our  Lord,  as  He 
sat  down  with  the  Apostles,  revealed  the  depth 
of  His  emotion  and  the  solemn  meanings  which 
the  occasion  held  :  "  With  desire  I  have  desired 
to  eat  this  passover  with  you  before  I  suffer." 
A  greater  Passover  was  to  be  transacted.  A 
greater  Paschal  Lamb  was  to  be  slain.  A  diviner 
work  was  to  be  wrought.  The  Hebrew  passover 
was  for  one  people  :  this  was  to  be  for  the  whole 
world.  That  celebrated  the  deliverance  of  a 
single  nation :  this  the  redemption  of  the  race. 
That  was  observed  wherever  Israelites  dwelt: 
this  was  to  be  observed  by  dwellers  in  all 
the  lands  of  the  earth.  Let  us  trace,  as  we  may, 
the  reasons  for  this  absorbing  longing  of  Christ 
to  partake  of  that  passover  with  His  Apostles. 
He  had  sat  down  with  them  at  other  passovers. 
For  more  than  thirty  years  He  had  observed 
with  His  people  this  great  commemorative 
festival.  But  the  climax  of  the  old  economy  was 
at  hand.  Its  ancient  types  were  to  be  fulfilled  in 
Him.  Its  sacred  rites  were  to  be  absorbed 
in  the  simpler  ceremonial  of  the  new  dispensation. 
The  blood  that  had  been  shed  for  a  thousand 
years  on  the  sacrificial  altars  was  to  be  super- 
seded by  the  shed  blood  that  once  for  all  was  to 
take  away  the  sins  of  the  world.  Redemption, 
for  which  the  race  had  waited,  for  which  toiling 
minds  had  struggled   in   vain,  was  to    be   fully 


CftRISt   AT   THE   COMMEMORATIVE    FEAST.         171 

accomplished    by     His    own     death     upon     the 
cross. 

The  time  of  tlie  passion  was  drawing  near. 
Calvaiy  rose  before  Him.  A  few  days  more,  and 
the  great  atoning  sacrifice  would  be  made.  He 
foresaw  it  all.  The  dreadful  events  crowded 
into  His  mind  and  filled  His  imagination  with 
their  phantoms.  He  knew  that  Gethsemane 
must  be  endured  ;  that  Golgotha  must  be 
climbed  ;  that  alone  He  must  tread  the  wine- 
press of  the  wrath  of  God  ;  that  on  His  unsup- 
ported shoulders  must  be  borne  the  sins  of  the 
world.  The  thought  of  it  all  burned  within  Him 
like  a  devouring  flame.  The  mental  fever  fired 
His  whole  nature.  He  would  hasten  to  it. 
"  How  am  I  straitened,"  He  said,  **  until  it  be 
accomplished  !  With  desire  have  1  desired  to 
eat  this  passover  with  you  before  I  suffer  !"  Ah  ! 
that  suffering  was  in  His  mind.  The  bitter  cup 
that  He  was  to  drink  !  And  he  would  drink  it. 
He  had  come  from  heaven  to  do  this  work,  and 
He  would  have  it  done.  There  is  a  mental  pro- 
cess by  which,  in  view  of  a  supreme  act,  the 
whole  mental  power  is  centered  upon  that  act,  and 
everything  contributes  to  its  accomplishment. 
The  love  of  Christ  for  sinners  made  Him  long  for 
the  occasion  of  this  passover,  during  which  the 
critical  and  crucial  event  should  occur  by  which 
their  salvation  should  be  achieved.  "  It  is  as  if 
He  longs  for  the  death  which  is  to  give  life  to 


172  THE    MODEL    LIKE. 

the  world."  He  would,  if  possible,  shorten  the 
delay,  and  speed  the  issue. 

Everything,  so  far  in  His  life,  had  been  work- 
ing toward  this  one  fateful  end.  All  His  toil,  all 
His  teaching,  all  His  sublime  miracles,  all  His 
disinterested  self-denial,  were  His  personal 
contributions  to  the  final  bestowment  of  Himself 
as  a  willing  sacrifice  for  man's  deliverance.  At 
this  passover  He  intended  to  transform  the 
ancient  feast  into  a  memorial  Supper  of  His 
supreme  love  for  sinners.  He  looked  forward  to 
it,  therefore,  with  deepest  interest.  It  would  be 
the  annulling  of  that  which  was  typical  and  tran- 
sient and  contracted,  and  its  transference  into  a 
commemoration  that  would  become  permanent 
and  world-wide  and  which  would  keep  alive  by 
its  simple  but  suggestive  symbols  a  spiritual 
redemption,  in  comparison  with  which  the  physi- 
cal preservation  of  the  Hebrew  people  would  be 
unworthy  of  mention.  He  rejoiced  that  the 
better  economy  was  to  supplant  the  earlier  and 
preparatory  one. 

Evidently,  too,  His  mind  went  forward  in 
thought  of  the  consummation  of  the  earthly 
memorial  in  the  communion  of  the  redeemed 
Church  in  heaven.  "  For  I  say  unto  you,  I  shall 
not  eat  it,  until  it  be  fulfilled  in  the  Kingdom  of 
God."  He  knew  what  the  glory  is  of  that  estate 
into  which  they  will  be  finally  admitted,  who 
share  in  His  sufferings  below,  who  are  loyal  to 
Him    in  their  day  of  trial.     At  this  passover.  He 


CHRIST    AT    THE    COMMEMORATIVE    FEAST.        173 

would  meet  with  His  chosen  friends,  "  His  little 
children  "  as  He  tenderl}^  called  them,  in  condi- 
tions of  anxiety  and  gloom  :  but  with  them  He 
would  look  forward  to  the  glory  which  the 
Father  had  given  Him,  and  which  He  would 
give  to  them,  to  the  tranquility  of  a  place  which 
would  be  prepared  for  them,  and  to  the  rest  of 
a  heavenly  home.  We  may  believe,  also,  that 
in  the  approach  of  the  awful  tragedy,  He  wanted 
the  fellowship  ind  sympathy  of  those  who  were 
His  chosen  friends.  He  said.  With  desire,  I  have 
desired  to  eat  this  passover  ivith  you  before  I 
suffer.  So  closely  did  He  connect  His  suffering 
with  this  interview  with  them  !  They  had  been 
with  him  in  all  His  ministry,  and  He  had  made 
them  confidants  of  His  purposes  and  His  acts. 
Although  they  did  not  fully  comprehend  Him, 
groping,  as  they  did,  their  way  slowly  out  of  their 
Jewish  prejudices,  yet  they  had  been  in  a  meas- 
ure, true  to  Him.  They  had  made  mistakes. 
They  had  done  things  which  grieved  Him, 
which  sometimes  provoked  Him.  But  they  had 
been  His  best  earthly  friends.  And  He  was  a 
man,  and  nothing  essentially  human  was  foreign 
to  Him. 

Therefore,  when  darkness  was  gathering 
around  Him,  when  a  trial,  greatest  of  all  trials 
that  human  nature  ever  bore,  was  instant,  He 
wanted  the  succor  of  His  friends.  Their  blessed 
sympathy  would  gird  Him  for  His  task.  In 
their  strength   He    would    be    strengthened    for 


174  THE   MODEL    LIFE. 

endurance.  We  know  how,  afterward,  when  the 
consternation  of  His  sufferings  fell  on  Him,  He 
took  with  Him  into  the  depths  of  Gethsemane 
three  of  His  most  trusted  disciples,  and  said  to 
them,  "  Watch  with  me."  We  recall  His  word 
to  them,  "  Rise  and  pray,"  when  He  was  exhaus- 
ted by  the  agony  from  which  His  own  pra3'er 
had  not  saved  Him.  We  recall  the  silent  horror 
which  He  felt  when  at  His  own  table  His  be- 
trayer sat,  with  the  mask  of  hypocrisy  upon  his 
demon  face,  his  polluted  soul  consigned  by  him- 
self to  Satan,  when  the  professed  friend  who  had 
eaten  bread  with  Him,  who  had  been  with  Him 
in  work  and  in  worship,  foully  lifted  up  his  heel 
against  Him.  His  whole  nature  prized  true 
friendship,  shrunk  from  the  treachery  of  pro- 
fessed friendship.  Christ  was  a  man,  and  we 
can,  even  from  our  human  stand-point,  form  a 
feeble  estimate  of  His  great  recoil  from  one  who 
had  proved  himself  to  be  an  ingrate  and  a  traitor, 
and  His  longing  for  the  cheering  sympathy  of 
those  who  truly  loved  Him. 

He  did  not  wish  to  be  alone.  No  one,  indeed, 
could  bear  for  Him  the  burden  of  human  sins, 
nor  carry  for  Him  the  load  of  human  sorrows: 
but  His  friends.  His  dear  children,  those  who 
owed  everything  most  precious  in  their  lives  to 
Him,  could  stand  by  Him,  could  help  Him  by 
their  loving  looks  and  their  sympathizing  words 
and  their  souls  saddened  by  His  sorrow  :  they 
could    watch    with    Him:    they   could   rise   and 


CHRIST    AT   THE   COMMIi:MORA.TIVE   FEAST.         175 

pray  :  they  could  go  with  Him  to  the  judgment- 
hall :  they  could  boldly  say  that  they  were  the 
friends  of  the  Nazarene :  they  could  protest 
against  His  illegal  arrest  and  trial :  they  could 
smite  His  assailants  with  the  sword  :  they  could 
keep  close  to  Him  as  He  bore  the  cross  and  weep 
while  He  suffered  on  Calvary.  Jesus  would 
have  prized  their  personal  devotion.  He  had 
the  feelings  of  a  man.  And  who  can  say  that  the 
Godhead,  enclothed  in  the  human  form,  was 
not,  in  this,  in  sympathy  with  the  manhood  of 
Christ  ? 

He  desired,  also,  to  prepare  them  for  the  catas- 
trophe which  was  near:  to,  once  more,  do  for 
them  what  he  could,  before  the  blow  should  fall 
with  its  stunning  severity  upon  them.  He  knew 
how  poorly  they  were  fitted  to  bear  a  trial  like  that 
which  already  lowered  on  them.  Thev  had  their 
ambitions,  hopes  and  projects.  Their  eyes  were 
filled  with  the  glare  of  a  kingdom  which  existed 
only  in  their  imaginati(^ns.  Even  here,  when 
the  tender  words:  "With  desire  I  have 
desired  to  eat  this  passover  with  you  before  I 
suffer,"  had  hardly  passed  His  lips,  there  arose 
a  contention  among  them,  which  of  them  was 
accounted  to  be  greatest.  They  were  aspi- 
rants for  the  highest  places  under  the  King. 
They  would  sit,  one  on  His  right  hand,  and  one 
on  His  left  hand,  at  His  royal  court.  Filled 
with  such  ideas  how  could  they  stand  before 
the  onset  of  that  terrible  trial  which  would  dash 


176  THE    MODFL    LIFE. 

their  hopes  and  leave  them  without  a  Leader 
and  without  a  solace  !  So  the  gracious  Master 
would  lead  them,  while  He  could,  to  truer,  higher 
thoughts :  He  w'ould  have  them  ready,  if  it 
might  be,  for  the  final  disaster. 

First  of  all  He  gave  them  a  lesson  of  humility. 
He  washed  their  feet  and  wiped  them  with  the 
towel  wherewith  He  was  girded  :  and  He  said 
"  If  I,  the  Lord  and  the  Master,  have  washed 
your  feet,  ye  also  ought  to  wash  one  another's 
feet."  There  was  no  sound  of  the  throne  and 
the  highest  places  in  that. 

Then  He  told  them,  in  symbols  which  spoke 
to  their  hearts,  of  His  coming  death,  as  He  gave 
them  the  broken  bread  to  represent  His  body 
which  was  given  for  them  and  the  wine  to  repre- 
sent his  blood  which  was  poured  out  for  them. 

He  pointed  them  to  the  mansions  which  He 
was  going  to  prepare  for  them.  He  promised 
to  them  the  presence  of  the  Comforter  who 
would  abide  with  them.  He  urged  them  to 
love  one  another,  even  as  He  had  loved  them. 

And,  then,  in  prayer,  beyond  all  other  prayer 
that  was  ever  offered.  He  commended  them  to 
God,  and  asked  that  they  might  behold  that 
supernal  glory  which  the  Father  had  given  Him, 
and  might  share  in  it. 

In  these  various  ways  He  wrought  on  their 
too  unresponsive  minds  to  fit  them  for  the 
painful  crisis  which  was  at  hand. 

Furthermore,   He    desired    to   associate,  with 


CHRIST   AT  THE   COMMEMORATIVE    FEAST,        177 

these  memorial  and  farewell  observances  of  re- 
ligion, the  indulgence  of  His  personal  love  for 
them.  His  mind  went  back  to  the  time  when  He 
first  became  acquainted  with  them,  when  from 
their  ordinary  business  He  called  them  to  follow 
Him  ;  when  He  called  Peter  and  Andrew  and 
James  and  John  from  their  fishing  boats  and  nets, 
telling  them  that  He  would  make  them  fishers  of 
men  ;  and  Matthew  from  the  place  of  toll  ;  and 
Nathaniel  and  the  others  from  their  various  oc- 
cupations, "  Ye  did  not  choose  me,"  He  said, 
"  but  I  chose  you  and  appointed  you."  He 
dwelt  upon  all  the  time  in  which  they  had  been 
together,  upon  their  weary  journeys  through 
Galilee  and  Judea,  upon  instructions  and  mighty 
miracles  and  hard  endurances  and  rejections, 
mingled  with  joys  and  blessed  anticipations,  upon 
the  one  supreme  object  of  His  life  on  earth  and 
the  training  with  which  He  had  sought  to  make 
them  ready  for  carrying  on  the  work  which  He 
would  begin.  He  thought,  too,  of  the  trials  that 
would  come  to  them  after  His  departure;  the 
bitter  hatred  of  men,  the  wide  rejection  of  the 
blessed  gospel,  their  own  disappointments.  He 
spoke  of  these  things  to  them,  and  said,  "  These 
things  have  I  spoken  unto  you,  that  when  their 
hour  is  come,  ye  may  remember  them,  how  that 
I  told  you."  And  that  they  might  not  grieve 
too  much  for  His  absence.  He  assured  them  that 
He  should  still  remember  them  and  that  He 
would  send  the  Comforter  to  abide    with    them. 


178  THE    MODEL    LI^E. 

He  gave  expression  to  His  warm,  undying', 
attachment  to  them.  "  No  longer,"  He  said,  "  do 
I  call  you  servants:  but  I  have  called  you 
friends."  With  tender  sympathy  He  said,  "  Let 
not  your  heart  be  troubled."  "  M3'  peace  I  give 
unto  you."  He  desired  that  His  joy  might  be 
in  them  and  that  their  joy  might  be  made  full. 
He  poured  out  His  heart  to  them  :  "  I  have  loved 
you  :  abide  ye  in  my  love."  He  told  them  that 
He  would  prove  His  greater  love  than  all  other 
love  for  them  by  laying  down  His  life  for  them. 
And  He  assured  them  that  whatever  should 
come  He  would  not  leave  them  desolate,  He 
would  come  unto  them.  "  Because  I  live,  ye 
shall  live  also."  And  He  pointed  them  for- 
ward to  eternal  mansions,  His  home  and  their 
home,  where  He  would  receive  them  unto  Him- 
self, that  where  He  is  there  they  should  be  also. 

So  this  farewell  meeting,  in  the  festal  observ- 
ance of  religion,  was  indeed  a  feast  of  love.  By 
the  institution  of  the  sacramental  Supper,  He  es- 
tablished a  monumental  memorial  of  His  love 
and  perpetuated  His  presence  with  them.  As 
often  as  they  observed  it,  they  would  do  it  in  re- 
membrance of  Him. 

They  were  indeed  to  separate  :  their  long  and 
blessed  service  together  was  to  be  interrupted : 
no  more  would  they  observe  the  holy  rites  of  the 
people  of  God  together :  no  more  would  He 
who  had  been  their  Leader  go  before  them, 
would  He  who  had  been  their  Instructor  speak 


CHRIST   AT   THE   COMMEMOKATIVE    FEAST.  179 

to  them,  would  He  who  had  been  their  Friend 
dwell  with  them.  He  was  about  to  go  to  His 
Father  and  to  His  throne  and  to  His  waiting 
Home  :  they  were  about  to  go  into  the  hostile 
world,  heralds  of  his  kingdom  of  grace. 

But  they  would  still  be  bound  together  by 
mutual  love :  He  on  the  throne  caring  for  them  : 
they  in  the  conflict  holding  His  name  high  and 
irresistible. 

At  this  farewell  feast  He  would  draw  them  in- 
to close  and  indissoluble  communion  with  Him- 
self and  with  one  another:  a  communion  which 
no  changes  could  shatter,  nor  time,  nor  eternity 
dissolve.  Painful  truly  the  separation  would  be. 
Were  they  not  His  "little  children?"  Was  it 
not  His  own  voice  which  had  called  them  to  His 
service?  Had  they  not  been  in  His  company, 
under  His  guidance  and  instruction,  sharers  with 
Him  in  the  beginnings  of  the  gospel,  in  the  plant- 
ing of  the  hoi}'  church  ? 

But  He  would  still  be  with  them.  His  exam- 
ple would  never  die.  His  words  would  sound 
on  with  the  tone  and  thrill  of  other  time.  His 
spirit  would  animate  them,  and  they  would 
meet  again.  A  few  years  of  toil  and  trial,  and 
then  the  world  of  eternal  calm  and  joy,  where 
they  shall  see  His  face  and  His  name  shall  be  on 
their  foreheads ! 

For  Himself,  for  them,  for  the  world,  with  de- 
sire did  He  desire  to  eat  that  Passover  with  them 
before  He  suffered. 


XV. 

CHRIST   THE   BOSOM   FRIEND. 

OT  without  some  significance  of  meaning- 
to  the  readers  of  the  gospels,  is  this  fact, 
that  one  of  the  disciples  leaned  on  the 
breast  of  the  Lord  at  supper,  several  times 
spoken  of  in  the  sacred  narrative.  The  writer  is 
not  one  of  those  who  would  take  pride  in  stating 
it,  as  though  a  special  privilege  or  honor  were 
granted  to  himself  in  being  allowed  such  intim- 
acy with  the  Lord  :  like  those  boasters  of  inter- 
views with  princes  and  crowned  heads  and 
persons  of  distinction  and  rank  who  plume  them- 
selves on  the  event.  He  is  a  man  of  marked 
modesty  who  keeps  out  of  sight  his  own  name 
in  the  account,  so  that  we  know  who  it  was  only 
by  inference,  by  setting  one  fact  over  against 
another.  It  is  not  told  of  a  weak  man,  of  an 
effeminate  disciple,  who  would  choose  to  lie  off 
in  indolent  repose  or  dreamy  sentimentality, 
breathing  his  life  luxuriously  away,  rather  than 
to  encounter  the  tasks  of  manly  service.  It  is 
told  of  a  bold,  strong  Apostle,  of  a  man  of 
fiery  energy  and  dauntless  purpose,  and  nervous 
eloquence,  of  a  man  who  was  foremost  to  face  the 

[i8ij 


1S2  THK    MODKL    LIFE. 

enemies  of  his  Master  and  of  liimself.  The  artists 
represent  him  as  most  like  the  Lord  of  any  of 
the  Apostles,  as  very  likely  he  was,  being  His 
own  cousin.  He  was  a  man  of  polished  grace  of 
manner,  with  the  courage  of  a  soldier.  When 
any  thing  new  or  great  was  to  be  undertaken,  he 
was  summoned  to  undertake  it.  He  was  modest 
and  loving,  as  such  men  are  apt  to  be.  But 
under  his  surcoat  beat  a  heart  of  fire ;  and  his 
gentle  hand  could  strike  a  blow  of  sturdiness ; 
and  his  polished  speech  had  ringing  in  it  an 
undertone  of  thunder. 

He  and  his  brother  James  were  surnamed  by 
Christ  Himself,  "  Boanerges,  which  is,  The  sons 
of  thunder."  This  designation  had  a  meaning  in 
it,  as  had  that  also  which  Christ  gave  to  Simon 
whom  He  surnamed  Peter.  For  Peter  was  to  be 
the  Rock  of  the  Church,  as  John  was  to  be  its 
bold  and  eloquent  advocate.  He  was  often 
associated  with  Peter  in  the  Master's  life,  in  the 
last  scenes  of  it,  and  afterward.  He  was  on  the 
Mount  of  Transfiguration  and  in  the  Garden  of 
Gethsemane.  At  the  trial  of  Christ  he  walked 
boldly  into  the  palace  of  the  high-priest,  by 
whom  he  was  well  known  ;  and  probably 
remained  in  sight  of  Christ  when  they  took  Him 
into  Pilate's  judgment-hall;  and  he  kept  near 
Him  on  the  way  to  Calvary  and  stood  by  His 
cross  in  His  more  than  mortal  agony,  where 
indeed  he  was  powerless  to  aid  his  beloved  Mas- 
ter, but  where  he  could  bow  in  tears  and  prayer 


CHRIST    THE    BdSOM    FRIKND.  183 

for  Him,  where  he  could  testify  his  undying 
devotion  to  Him  and  where  Christ  could  see  him 
and  speak  to  him,  as  He  did,  from  the  cross  itself 
in  tenderest  appreciation  of  his  precious  love. 

He  was  sent  with  Peter  to  prepare  the  last 
passover  in  a  city  clamorous  for  the  blood  of 
his  Master.  He  outran  Peter  to  the  sepulchre 
of  the  buried  Christ  ;  yet  reverently  paused  at 
its  sacred  entrance.  He  was  a  leader  of  the 
little  company  of  Christians,  after  the  Lord 
ascended,  and  boldly  appeared  in  the  Jewish 
temple  as  a  preacher  through  Jesus  of  the  resur- 
rection from  the  dead.  So  that  the  historian  of 
their  acts  writes:  "  Now  when  they  saw  the 
boldness  of  Peter  and  John  *  *  they  took 
knowledge  of  them  that  the}'  had  been  with 
Jesus."  He  was  sent  to  Samaria  as  one  of  the 
first  missionaries  of  the  Church.  Paul,  in  his 
letter  to  the  Galatians,  speaks  of  him  as  a  pillar 
of  the  Church.  In  his  old  age,  though  his  let- 
ters are  full  of  love,  he  commends  "  faith,  which 
is  the  victory  that  overcometh  the  world."  To 
him  it  was  given  to  receive  the  Revelation  of 
Jesus  Ciirist  concerning  the  future  of  His  Church 
on  earth  and  to  have  the  vision  of  the  new  heav- 
en and  the  new  earth  ;  the  sublime  Apocalypse 
whose  hidden  meanings  are  yet  to  be  evolved  in  a 
history  of  mingled  terror  and  triumph  ! 

Such  was  the  man  "  which  also  leaned  on  His 
breast  at  supper."  This  was  the  last  supper, 
the  first  Lord's  supper,  which  we  still  observe, 


184  THK    MODKL    I.IFK. 

since  Christ  then  enjoined  it  upon  all  who 
love  Him:  "This  do  in  remembrance  of 
Me."  It  is  written:  "  Now  there  was  leaning^ 
on  Jesus'  bosom  one  of  His  disciples,  whom 
Jesus  loved.'*  And  again  ;  "  He  then  lying  on 
Jesus'  breast  saith  unto  Him,  Lord  :"  I  have  said 
the  singular  repetition  of  this  fact  has  in  it  some 
significance  of  meaning  to  all  who  read  it. 

Perhaps  there  is  a  divine  side  to  it  to  which 
we  may  give  heed.  It  was  His  breast,  the 
bosom  of  the  Lf)rd,  on  which  the  brave,  loving, 
confiding  disciple  leaned.  It  is  the  strong 
bosom  on  which  the  weak  and  throbbing  head 
reclines.  The}'  are  moving  into  perils  together, 
and  the  head  rests  on  one  to  whom,  in  his 
feebleness  and  uncertainty,  the  disciple  can 
confidently  say.  Lord  !  So  God  places  Himself 
for  us.  It  is  not  on  a  throne  to  whose  dazzling 
glory  we  dare  not  draw  nigh,  remote  and  lifted 
up.  it  is  not  in  some  brilliant  place  of  Leader- 
ship to  which  it  would  be  in  vain  to  attempt  to 
urge  one's  way,  occupied  by  those  in  honor  and 
in  favor.  But  it  is  at  the  table,  at  the  festival 
common  to  the  household,  in  the  posture  com- 
mon at  the  daily  meal,  at  the  supper  in  the  upper 
room  where  the  Lord  and  His  disciples  are 
alone  together,  that  we  have  this  representation 
of  the  confiding  familiarity  which  Christ  allows 
on  the  part  of  that  disciple  whom  He  loves. 
It  is  not  by  some  apparent  act  of  condescension, 
it  is  not  by  laying  aside  something  peculiar  and 


CHRIST   THE    rOSOM    FRIEND.  185 

magnificent  that  belongs  to  Him,  that  He  pre- 
pares the  way  for  the  disciple  to  lean  on  Hia 
breast,  but  it  is  as  a  matter  of  course,  as  a 
natural  and  unconstrained  and  e very-day  thing, 
even  as  one  friend  would  conduct  toward 
another.  This  is  the  way  God  reveals  Himself 
to  us.  For  Christ,  in  all  His  life,  was  the  revela- 
tion of  God  to  our  human  comprehension.  We 
had  failed  to  know  God.  His  works  had  not 
taught  us  of  Him.  His  word  had  but  partially 
done  it.  His  Providence  had  left  us  in  the 
dark.  So  Christ  came,  to  make  that  clear 
which  the  ages  had  left  obscure,  to  bring  down 
the  divine  life  into  the  grasp  of  our  thought  and 
into  the  reach  of  our  affection,  to  make  God 
known  to  us. 

And  here  is  one  manifestation  of  Him  holding 
on  His  bosom  at  supper  one  of  His  disciples  ' 
I  do  not  characterize  this.  It  seems  to  me  that 
any  language  about  it  would  but  lessen  the 
effect,  would  take  away  from  its  striking  and 
tender  and  blessed  significance.  It  stands  out 
like  a  picture  of  some  old  great  master,  speaking 
for  itself,  unable  to  be  represented  so  well  as 
is  represents  itself.  But  we  are  to  take  it  in 
its  fullest,  greatest  meaning,  just  as  it  is,  just 
as  it  is  set  before  us  in  three-fold  phrase,  as 
Christ,  with  the  disciple  leaning  on  His  breast  at 
supper,  as  Christ,  so,  as  in  all  other  ways  of  His 
life,  giving  us  the  representation  of  God  !  And 
if  this  gives  us  other  views  of  God  from  those 


186  THK    MODEL    LIFE. 

which  we  naturally  have,  if  it  lessens  dread  and 
remoteness  and  awfulness,  may  it  not  have  the 
proper  influence  upon  us?  May  it  not  harmon- 
ize with  the  meaning  which  is  involved  in  the 
expression,  "Our  Father?"  May  it  not  make 
God  more  approachable  by  us,  more  dear  to  us  ? 
You  know  how  your  views  have  changed  of 
some  one  whom  you  have  regarded  with  rever- 
ence and  awe,  as  you  have  met  him  in  the  confi- 
dence of  friendship  and  in  the  familiarity  of 
acquaintance!  Come  to  His  table,  where  the 
Lord,  among  us,  calling  us  not  servants  but 
friends,  permits  the  disciple  to  lean  on  His  breast 
at  supper.  As  you  think  of  it,  it  will  not  reduce 
the  dignity  of  Godhead,  it  will  not  draw  down  to 
depreciate  divine  attributes  ;  rather,  it  will  reveal 
love,  it  will  show  you  infinite  kindness  making  a 
place  for  the  weary,  infinite  strength  holding  the 
weak,  infinite  greatness  taking  upon  itself  appro- 
priate care  for  those  who  are  in  need! 

We  are  sure  that  there  is  a  Jtunian  side  to  it 
which  is  adapted  to  us.  If  Christ  will  permit 
the  disciple  to  come  so  close  to  Him,  surely  the 
disciple  will  not  lose  the  privilege.  If  that  posi- 
tion is  one  of  aflectionateness,  then  should  the 
disciple  take  it.  It  is  but  a  response  to  the  love 
that  has  redeemed  him.  That  love  was  so  great 
that  it  involved  great  sacrifice,  left  a  great  throne 
vacant  for  thirty-three  long  years,  put  abjectcst 
humiliation  upon  one  who  had  been  used  for 
countless   ages   to   loftiest    glories,   reduced   a 


CHRIST    THE    BOSOM    FRIEND.  187 

divine  Creator  to  the  contempt  of  His  creatures 
and  consigned  Him  to  the  ignominy  and  the 
suffering  of  the  cross.  No  love  on  our  part  can 
match  it,  can  be  the  sufficient  response  to  it. 
All  that  we  can  render  is  called  for.  His  voice 
speaks  to  each  of  us,  and  there  is  pleading  and 
claim  in  it,  "  Lovest  thou  me  ?"  If  He  will  take 
us  to  His  bosom,  will  allow  us  that  place  of 
affection,  will  permit  us  to  come  so  near  Him, 
where  we  can  whisper  to  Him  our  loving  grati- 
tude, where  we  can  call  Him  by  the  Name 
that  He  loves  the  best,  all  other  names  above, 
where  we  can  feel  our  sins  to  the  utmost  and  our 
redemption  to  the  utmost  also,  surely  we  shall 
be  there  !  We  know  how  wonderful  it  seems  to 
us  when  one,  whom  we  had  indeed  thoup:ht  of 
as  a  friend,  but  who  in  culture  and  knowledge 
and  all  graces  and  all  habitudes  of  life  had 
always  seemed  far  above  us,  too  far  for  us  to 
come  ever  very  near  together,  reveals  a  pure, 
strong  affectionateness  for  us  and  takes  us  to  his 
bosom  and  enfolds  us  with  clasping  arms'  Our 
whole  nature  flows  out  to  him  in  a  new  tide  of 
love,  and  we  become  friends  as  we  never  were 
before.  So  Christ  takes  us  to  Himself,  and  we 
feel  that  we  are  one  with  him  as  we  have  never 
been  before. 

It  was  at  the  supper  that  the  disciple  leaned 
on  His  breast.  If  ever,  at  the  supper,  we  come 
closest  to  Him,  and  lay  our  head  on  His  bosom. 
Here  we  see  as  we  do  not  elsewhere  what  He  is 


188  THE    MODKL    LIFE. 

to  US  and  what  He  has  done  for  us.  Those 
symbols  set  Him  clearly  before  us  in  His  aton- 
ing offering.  We  may  read  of  it,  we  may  hear 
of  it,  but  at  the  supper  we  see  it :  the  Body 
broken,  wounded,  suffering;  the  Blood  flowing, 
shed,  for  us. 

These  sensuous  objects  make  the  fact  more  real 
to  us.  Then  we  love  much  because  we  know 
that  mucii  has  been  done  for  us.  Our  whoie 
hearts  go  out  to  Him  whose  blood,  whose  life, 
went  out  for  us.  It  is  easy,  natural,  to  lay  our 
head  in  deepest  gratitude  and  love  upon  the  very 
bosom  of  One  who  has  done  this,  all  for  us.  The 
love  is  mutual.  We  love  Him  because  He  first 
loved  us.  "  Lean  hard  if  you  love  me,"  said  a 
Persian  convert  to  her  accomplished  and  devoted 
teacher,  one  of  our  own  best  missionaries,  as  she 
saw  that,  worn  and  tired,  she  leaned  a  little  upon 
her  for  support  as  they  sat  together  with  many 
others  in  their  study  of  the  Word.  "  Lean  hard 
if  you  love  me  ,"  and  the  grateful  strength  of  the 
Persian  woman  supported  the  weary  body  of 
her  teacher.  He  who  has  all  strength  and  who 
says  to  the  weakest  of  His  followers  "  My 
strength  shall  be  made  perfect  in  thy  weakness," 
bids  us  lean  hard  upon  His  bosom.  If  we  are 
weak,  if  we  are  anxious,  if  we  are  troubled,  if  we 
are  in  any  doubt  or  sorrow  we  can  find  support 
and  comfort  there.  We  must  not  keep  aloof. 
We  must  go  to  the  body  that  was  broken  :  to  the 
bosom  out  of  whose  side  flowed  tlie  blood.  Noth- 


CHRIST  THE   BOSOM   FRIEND.  189 

ing  must  separate  us  from  the  loving  and  beloved 
Christ.  We  must  come  to  Him  there,  at  the 
supper,  if  we  iiave  not  lived  near  to  Him  at 
other  times.  But  it  must  be  then  in  penitence 
as  well  as  in  love  :  tears  of  sorrow  must  flow 
with  our  tears  of  gratitude.  Better  to  have 
lived  near  Him  elsezvhcre  ^\<,o,  that  it  may  be  easy 
for  us  to  lean  on  His  breast  at  supper.  These 
intimacies  of  affection  should  be  the  result  of 
long-time  love,  of  daily,  continuous,  habitual 
devotion.  John  leaned  on  His  breast  at  supper 
because  he  had  loved  Him  beforehand.  He  had 
toiled  for  Him  among  the  people.  He  had  stood 
with  Him  on  the  Mount  of  Glory.  He  had  faced 
His  foes  with  unflinching  courage.  He  was 
ready  to  go  with  Him  before  Jewish  priest  or 
Roman  governor,  to  stand  by  the  very  foot  of 
His  cross  as  one  willing  to  die  with  Him  or  for 
Him. 

The  place  of  such  a  follower  was  on  the  Savi- 
our's bosom.  The  strong  arm  of  the  Saviour 
would  fold  and  hold  him  there.  True  faithful 
service  runs  into  true  earnest  love.  Lay  not 
down  your  unworthy  head  on  that  sacred  breast, 
where  lay  the  head  of  one  like  John,  unless  like 
John  you  have  been  faithful  beforehand,  unless 
you  come  weary  in  the  Master's  service,  unless 
you  come  from  toil  and  testimony  and  revelation 
of  glory  and  bold  advocacy  of  your  Saviour. 
Go  to  His/iV/and  not  to  His  bosom,  if  your  life 
has  had  no  love  in   it   for   Him.     Go  to  His  feet 


UK)  TIIK    MOt)KL    MFFl. 

.'iiid  not  to  His  bosom,  if  your  feet  have  gone  on 
all  ways  of  inclulgencc  and  sin  and  vanity,  if  your 
bosom  has  known  no  devotion,  no  loyalty,  no 
l)rofound  affection.  But  let  not  timidity,  self- 
distrust,  humbleness,  keep  you  away.  If  you 
love  you  can  lean.  One  without  strength  can 
lean.  He  is  strong.  He  is  all-sufficient,  He  is 
all- worthy  on  whose  breast  you  can  cast  your- 
self. He  is  the  Saviour,  the  all-mighty  Saviour 
of  the  poor  and  the  weak  and  the  lost,  who  yet 
repent  and  love  and  serve. 

On  His  bosom  one  ma}^  come  to  knowledge 
beyond  what  he  could  gain  elsewhere.  There 
John  was  to  ask  that  which  the  disciples  did  not 
know,  and  to  learn  it  from  Christ.  "  The  secret 
of  the  Lord  is  with  them  that  fear  Him."  That 
is  the  place  where  may  be  communicated  the 
divine  secrets.  Says  one  :  "  There  is  a  secret  in 
the  da)  s  of  God,  with  His  own  children,  which 
sweetens  all  He  does."  In  the  divine  intimacy 
He  may  make  Himself  known  to  the  confiding 
believer,  so  that  he  may  say  as  John  said,  "  We 
know  that  the  Son  of  God  is  come,  and  hath 
given  us  an  understanding,  that  we  may  know 
Him  that  is  true;  and  we  are  in  Him  that  is 
true,  even  in  His  Son  Jesus  Christ.  This  is  the 
true  God  and  eternal  life."  John  did  not  doubt. 
He  knew.  The  love  that  he  had  for  Christ  was 
a  living  and  controlling  love.  His  letters  to  his 
beloved  children  in  Christ  glow  with  the  assur- 
ance of  his  union  to  the  Lord.     The  visions  that 


C&RIST    THE    BOSOM    FRIEND.  19l 

he  had  on  Patmos,  when  to  him  the  heavens 
wei-e  opened  and  the  ghjries  of  the  Lamb 
amidst  His  Father's  throne  were  revealed,  were 
no  more  satisfying  and  assuring  than  the 
blessed  experiences  when  he  leaned  on  the 
bosom  of  his  Lord  and  his  Friend  at  supper. 
The  city,  which  he  discerned  and  described,  of 
such  imperial  magnificence  and  glory,  was  no 
more  certain  unto  him  when  he  saw  his  own 
name  inscribed  on  one  of  its  garnished  founda- 
tions, than  when  he  received  the  quiet  answer 
from  the  lips  of  the  Lord  in  reply  to  the  question 
which  he  asked  as  he  lay  on  Jesus'  breast.  That 
heaven  was  already  begun  in  his  soul.  He 
Avho  is  the  Light  and  the  glory  of  it  was 
already  revealed  to  His  loving  disciple.  The 
Apocalypse  within  him  was  more  than  the 
Apocalypse  without  and  above  him.  He  lived 
in  the  peace  and  joy  and  love  of  the  inhabitants 
of  the  blessed  land.  He  could  have  no  more  there 
that  he  needed,  no  more  that  could  satisfy  him, 
than  he  had  when  in  the  blessedness  of  such  a 
friendship  he  leaned  op  the  bosom  of  Christ  at 
supper. 

"  Then  on  Thy  grandeur  I  will  lay  me  down. 
Already  life  is  heaven  to  me  ; 
No  cradled  child  more  softly  lies  than  I  ; 
Come  soon.  Eternity  !" 


XVI. 


CHRIST   THE   ENLIGHTENER   OF   MEN. 


HRIST,  and  the  religion  of  Christ,  furnish 
sufficient  light  for  ev^ery  man.  Undoubt- 
edly there  are  mysterious  things,  unsolv- 
ablc  problems,  which  will  remain  such  so  long  as 
we  are  in  the  present  environment.  These  do 
not  much  concern  us:  although  many  men  very 
much  concern  themselves  with  them.  They  seem 
to  like  to  give  time  and  thought  and  care  to  the 
unessentials,  to  the  things  which  are  unknowable 
or  unexplainable,  rather  than  to  attend  to  those 
which  are  both  plain  and  practical,  and  personal 
as  well.  They  like  to  take  hold  of  "  weapons 
whose  handles  are  sharper  than  their  blades." 
They  like  to  argue  on  what  is  doubtful,  rather 
than  to  experience  what  is  certain.  The}'  prefer 
to  doubt  the  being  of  any  God  rather  than  to 
love  the  true  God.  They  prefer  to  dwell  where 
they  cannot  see,  rather  than  to  walk  in  the  clear 
light.  Nevertheless,  the  light  has  come  into  the 
world,  and  it  lighteth  every  man  ! 

Christianity  sets  a  standard  for  true  life.  This 
is  a  vita!  thing  for  every  man.  How  shall  1  live? 
is  the  first  question  which  confronts  each  soul. 

[193J 


194  THE   MODKL    LIFE. 

It  is  possible  to  utterly  waste  this  life.  It  is  pos- 
sible to  make  a  terrible  curse  of  it.  It  is  an  un- 
certain possession.  It  is  a  hard  and  doubtful 
battle  which  we  wage  for  it.  Men  are  gravely 
asking,  Is  life  worth  living  ?  That  depends 
upon  the  use  to  which  we  put  it  :  is  solemnly 
answered  by  our  misuse  of  it.  We  can  make  it 
worth  living.  We  can  make  it  a  most  unfortu- 
nate possession.  Three  centuries  ago  a  strong 
thinker  wrote:  "  I  may  be  too  old  to  live,  I  can 
never  be  too  young  to  die  :  I  will  therefore  live 
every  hour,  as  if  I  were  to  die  the  next."  Chris- 
tianity teaches  us  to  seek  first  the  kingdom  of 
love  and  the  righteousness  that  belongs  to  it :  that 
so  all  other  things  may  be  provided  for.  It  holds 
that  it  is  a  practical  heresy  for  any  one  to  delay 
repentance  and  faith  in  Christ,  with  all  the 
uncertainties  and  the  unavoidabilities  that  hang 
over  every  life.  It  teaches  that  the  foundation  is 
of  prime  importance,  and  that  he  who  goes  on  to 
erect  his  structure  upon  treacherous  sand,  is 
liable  to  most  serious  disaster.  It  antagonizes 
the  make-shifts  and  perversions  in  which  so  many 
men  indulge  and  sets  up  a  true  standard  for  them 
to  go  by.  it  puts  first  things  first;  and  makes 
great  things  great :  it  never  dwarfs  eternity  in  the 
presence  of  time,  nor  shuts  the  omnipresent  God 
out  of  any  portion  of  His  universe. 

Would  you  live  up  to  the  standard?  Would 
you  improve  and  rightly  use  the  light?  Then 
abandon,  first   of  all,  your  indifference  to  your 


CHRIST   THE    ENLIGHTENER   OF   MEN.  195 

real  duty.  Come  into  harmony  with  the 
representations  of  the  inspired  word.  If  you 
are  a  little  child,  know  that  this  relig-ion  is  for 
3^ou,  that  the  blessed  Saviour  is  your  Saviour 
and  that  He  has  a  fondness  for  children  and 
seeks  their  3'oung  love,  their  tirst  and  best  love, 
that  He  desires  to  pre-empt  their  hearts  and  to 
possess  their  whole  lives. 

You  cannot  make  a  mistake  in  giving  your 
whole  lives  to  Him,  in  making  tlie  dew  of  your 
youth  radiant  with  His  love,  in  lighting  up  the 
morning  of  your  days  with  the  light  that  He 
brings  from  heaven.  The  religion  of  Christ  is 
the  religion  of  children.  It  is  meant  for  them. 
It  is  going  to  be,  more  and  more,  in  all  the 
lands,  their  religion.  The  unfounded  prejudices 
which  have  held  them  back,  which  have  made 
many  a  child's  pillow  wet  with  secret  tears,  are 
to  give  way,  and  the  children  are  to  be  the 
recruits  of  the  conquering  Lord,  and  as  the 
bright  heavens  are  full  of  boys  and  girls  who 
enjoy  Christ  so  the  redeemed  world  is  to  be 
made  full  of  them.     All  things  indicate  it. 

Let  the  children  come  to  Clirist.  The  artists 
have  loved  to  put  on  canvas  the  pictorial  repre- 
sentation of  that  most  significant  saying  of  the 
Lord,  "  Suffer  the  little  children,  and  forbid  them 
not,  to  come  unto  me;  for  to  such  beiongeth  the 
kingdom  of  heaven."  In  the  great  galleries  you 
see  His  benignant  face  as  He  welcomes  with  out- 
stretched arms  the  little  ones  w  ho  confide  in  Him. 


196  THE    MODEL    LIFE. 

And  we    must  love  to    enconrag-e  in  practice 
what  others  produce  in  art. 

If  A'ou  have  passed  out  of  childhood  and  the 
ambitions  of  youth  are  stirring  within  you,  if 
)'ou  are  full  of  worldly  hopes  and  are  planning 
for  worldly  success,  you  have  here  a  guide  of 
authority  and  of  wisdom  which  you  will  do  well 
to  heed.  Many  a  young  man  and  young  woman 
feel  concerned  as  to  the  calling  which  they  shall 
follow  in  the  world.  It  is  a  serious  thing  to 
decide,  when  before  each  are  open  so  many  paths. 
The  business  of  the  world  is  multiform.  The 
professions  of  life  have  their  separate  invitations. 
What  will  you  choose  to  do?  To  what  calling 
will  you  devote  your  one  life?  Many  make  a 
mistake.  It  is  said  that  a  good  farmer  was 
spoiled  b}'  going  into  tlic  pulpit  ;  or  a  certain 
l)Oor  blacksmith  would  have  made  a  iirst-rate 
lawyer  ;  or  that  this  man  and  that  man  have  mis- 
taken their  calling.  This  is  very  likely  to  be  the 
case.  Persons  decide  these  matters  in  their 
immaturit}',  and  repent  with  their  experience. 

But  there  is  one  decision,  which  each  one  set- 
ting out  in  independent  life  may  make,  which 
involves  no  mistake,  which  will  excite  no  after 
regret:  it  is  the  decision  to  take  Christ  as  the 
Master,  to  devote  the  life  to  Him.  It  will  not 
then  be  of  very  great  comparative  importance 
what  the  particular  worldly  profession  or  calling 
may  be.  The  3'oung  man  or  the  young  woman 
who  starts  forth   as  a  Christian,  has  something 


CHRIST   THK    ENLIGHTENER    OF    MEN.  197 

worthy  to  live  for  in  any  vocation.  Any  voca- 
tion, which  is  fit  for  a  Clii'istian,  has  the  Lord's 
call  in  it.  It  has  good  work  in  it.  It  has 
success  in  it.  For  the  final  reckoning-,  with 
which  every  life  will  be  terminated,  requires 
an  accounting,  not  of  the  propert}^  which 
one  has  amassed,  not  of  the  fortune  which 
figures  in  the  inventory  of  the  probate  court, 
not  of  the  pleasures  which  one  has  enjoyed,  the 
travel  which  has  enlarged  the  knowledge  of  the 
world,  the  reading  which  has  furnished  growth 
for  the  mind  :  but  of  the  growth  of  the  soul  in 
the  knowledge  of  Christ,  the  good  work  which 
has  been  done  to  set  forward  the  kingdom  of  the 
Lord  among  men,  the  help  which  has  been  given 
to  the  church,  the  effort  which  has  been  made 
to  save  other  men.  A  man  may  come  to  the 
end  of  life  poor  in  worldly  property,  but  rich 
in  faith  and  in  eternal  possessions.  He  may 
have  had  a  hard  time  as  things  go  in  this  world, 
but  be  fitted  to  wear  a  very  bright  crown  in 
heaven  and  to  be  at  the  head  of  ten  cities  in  the 
coming  Kingdom.  Some  one  has  well  said, 
"  Happiness  may  fly  away, "pleasure  pall  or  cease 
to  be  obtainable,  health  decay,  friends  fail  or 
prove  unkind,  but  the  power  to  serve  God  never 
fails,  the  love  of  Him  is  never  rejected."  No 
life  can  be  vain  tiiat  has  good  Christian  service 
in  it.  No  life  is  lost  that  holds  the  gain  of 
repentance  and  faith  and  love  to  Christ.  He  has 
not  made  a  mistake  who  has  consecrated  him- 
self to  the  Lord  at  the  opening  of  his  manhood. 


198  TIIK    MODEL    LIFE. 

Clirislianity  furnishes  principle  for  the  right 
governing  of  conduct.  We  all  need  a  rule  of 
life,  a  law  bv  which  our  course  shall  be  directed. 
We  are  brought  into  positions  where  two  ways 
are  open  to  us.  Two  parties  make  their  appeal 
for  our  suffrages.  Two  doctrines  are  urged 
upon  our  acceptance.  Questions  of  casuistry 
arise  on  which  opposing  aigunicnts  aie  made. 

How  shall  one  decide?  Which  way  shall  one 
turn?  On  which  side  shall  he  vote?  Which 
doctrine  shall  he  put  into  his  creed  ?  What 
ethics  shall  he  follow  ? 

Christ  gives  him  the  governing  principle. 
We  have  in  the  gospel  a  golden  rule.  One 
overmastering  obligation  holds  us.  If  we  give 
ourselves  to  God,  to  be  His  and  to  serve  Him, 
we  must  do  that  which  is  for  His  glory,  we 
must  do  for  others  what  we  would  have  them 
do  for  us,  we  must  act  in  every  human  relation 
as  those  who  are  the  servants  of  Christ.  Selfish- 
ness goes  down  before  this  principle.  World- 
liness  expires  in  its  presence. 

Before  everything  else  the  new  man  is  a  Chris- 
tian. He  cannot  violate  his  heavenly  vows.  He 
cannot  desert  the  standard  of  his  Saviour.  He 
must  obey  the  Lord,  whomsoever  he  may  dis- 
obey. No  friends  can  stand  between  him  and 
Christ.  Father  and  mother,  brother  and  sister, 
must  be  hated  so  that  Christ  shall  be  loved. 

Christianity  affords  comfort  in  sorrow.  A 
factor  in  all  life  is  the  grief  that  is  mingled  in  it. 


CHRIST   THE    ENLTOHTENER   OP   MEN.  190 

We  cannot  escape  it.  To  some  souls  it  is  rare  ; 
but  when  it  comes  to  them  it  is  great.  For  some 
families  it  is  long  adjourned  ;  but  then  it  breaks 
on  them  as  the  swift  and  heavy  surges  beat 
against  the  shore.  Friends  may  stand  together  ; 
but  the  time  will  come  when  they  will  fall  as 
trees  fall  before  the  axe  of  the  pioneer.  Two  may 
walk  together  on  many  and  long  paths  ;  but  sud- 
denly the  footsteps  of  one  will  cease,  and  the 
survivor  will  go  thenceforth  alone.  Tenderest 
relations  are  sundered.  Beautiful  lives,  made 
for  each  other,  are  broken  apart. 

God's  discipline  of  affliction  is  on  the  sinning 
race.  And  not  till  the  heavens  shall  have 
received  all  the  redeemed  will  it  be  said  that 
even  for  them  there  is  no  more  sorrow. 

Christ  does  not  remove  it :  but  He  gives  com- 
fort in  it.  Christ  does  not  remove  it :  but  He 
gives  a  compensation  for  it.  Christ  does  not 
remove  it :  but  He  blesses  the  soul  in  bearing  it, 
so  that,  though  it  be  grievous,  it  works  for  it 
an  eternal  weight  of  glory.  Some  of  the 
sweetest  human  lives  are  those  that  have  borne 
the  hardest  griefs,  as  there  are  plants  that  shed 
their  sweetest  perfumes  when  they  are  pressed 
and  beaten  most  rudely.  The  most  graceful 
plants  in  the  heavenly  gardens  are  those  on 
which  the  storms  swept  most  mercilessly  here. 
All  the  while  before  every  Christian  are  the 
footsteps  of  his  Lord,  who  trod  the  wine-press 
of  sorrow  alone,  who  was  a  man  of  sorrows  and 


200  TIIK    MODEL    LIFE. 

acquainted  with  grief,  who  bore  our  griefs  and 
carried  our  sorrows,  who  passed  through  every 
door  that  is  to  open  for  our  feet,  who  carried  all 
the  burdens  that  are  to  be  laid  on  us,  and  who  will 
make  His  grace  to  be  sufficient  for  us.  If 
religion  had  no  more  than  this  to  do  for  us,  it 
should  command  our  acceptance.  If  Christ  had 
no  greater  work  than  this  to  do  for  us,  He 
should  have  our  immediate  homage  and  our 
grateful  service.     But  He  has  another  work. 

Christianity  yields  the  pardon  for  sin.  The 
darkest  fact  of  the  world  is  sin.  It  is  a  universal 
fact.  We  have  nothing  to  do  with  its  origin, 
with  the  reasons  for  its  permission,  with  any  of 
the  hard  questions  which  its  existence  starts. 
We  have  only  to  do  with  zV  and  with  deliverance 
from  it.  It  is  an  existing  fact.  We  are  person- 
ally guilty  of  it.  Then,  only  one  great  question 
confronts  and  occupies  us:  Can  we  be  delivered 
from  it?  That  question  the  Gospel  answers, 
answers  plainly  and  fully,  answers  for  every 
man,  answers  everywhere  :  answers  so  that  every 
one  can  know  its  meaning,  so  that  every  one  can 
know  that  he  is  included  :  answers  without  any 
mistake,  without  any  reservation,  with  a  fullness 
that  readies  all  sinners,  and  a  particularity  that 
touches  each  sinner.  It  tells  us  that  Christ  has 
died  for  sinners,  that  He  has  made  such  a  com- 
plete satisfaction  for  their  sins  before  the  throne 
and  law  of  God  that  on  their  repentance  and 
trust  in  Him  they  can  be  pardoned,  utterly   and 


CHRIST   THE    KNLIGHTENER   OF    MEN.  201 

forever,  and  can  be  treated  as  though  they  had 
never  sinned.  This  is  the  burden  of  the  Gospel. 
This  is  the  supreme  meaning  of  the  Cross.  This 
is  Christ.  Forgiveness  of  sin,  through  His  death, 
on  repentance  and  faith.  It  is  the  wonder  of  the 
universe.  It  is  the  one  thing  that  the  angels 
desire  to  look  into.  It  should  be  W\q  first  thing 
with  each  of  us. 

Moreover,  Christianity  holds  the  hope  of 
eternal  life.  It  has  the  promise  of  the  life  that  now 
is,  and  of  that  which  is  to  come.  Anything  less 
than  this  would  be  futile,  anything  more  would 
be  superfluous.  We  are  on  the  sea !  Winds 
and  strong  currents  and  the  forces  of  giant 
machinery  are  bearing  us  on.  To  what?  The 
cry  from  the  look-out  will  soon  be  heard.  To 
what  land  will  he  point  us?  What  fair  shores 
are  those  which  lift  their  fronded  palms  before 
us,  from  which  the  soft  breezes  bear  the  odors  of 
opulent  gardens  and  the  harmonies  of  exultant 
choirs,  and  from  which  a  glory  streams,  not  of 
the  sun  nor  of  the  moon,  but  which  is  the  glory 
of  God  ?  What  serene  heights  are  those  on 
which  are  dimly  seen  the  outlines  of  palaces, 
whose  golden  domes  are  lifted  into  the  sky,  and 
that  flash  with  the  brilliance  of  pearls  and  gems  ? 
What  city  is  that  whose  walls  rise  on  our  sight, 
whose  foundations  are  of  all  manner  of  precious 
stones,  and  within  which  are  processions  of  many 
nations  carrying  their  tribute  to  its  throne? 

There  no  sin  is   found.     There  no  sorrow   is 


2(V2  TIIK    MODKL    l.IFK. 

known.  There  death  shall  be  no  more.  And 
there  shall  be  ni^ht  no  more.  Life  forever,  life 
in  uninterrupted  joy,  life  with  the  holy  ones,  life 
in  Christ  with  God  ! 

That  Christ  gives.  That  is  the  sure  inheritance 
of  all  those  who  love  and  serve  Him  here. 

On  these  great  matters,  most  vital  to  all  of  us, 
the  clear  light  shines  from  the  gospel  of  Christ. 
We  may  know  all  that  we  need  to  know,  and 
know  it  absolutely. 

George  McDonald,  in  Paul  Fabre,  says : 
"  To  many  souls  hell  itself  seems  a  less  frightful 
alternative  than  the  agony  of  resolve,  of  turning, 
of  being  born  again."  They  shrink  from  the 
undertaking  to  become  Christians  as  though  it 
were  a  crucifixion.  They  postpone  the  good 
resolution  as  though  it  were  the  contraction  of  a 
disease.  They  act  as  though  the  best  thing  they 
could  do  were  the  worst  thing  they  could  do.  It 
is  told  of  a  man  that  as  he  sprang  ashore  from  a 
boat,  his  foot  was  caught  in  one  of  the  links  of  an 
iron  chain  which  was  imbedded  in  the  sand  of 
the  beach.  He  was  unconcerned  until  the  tide 
began  to  rise  !  The  gray  waters  murmured  in 
circles  around  the  place  where  he  sat.  They 
rose  above  his  ankles,  and  the  moan  of  the  ocean 
grew  louder  as  the  waves  rose  higher.  It 
soundetl  like  his  requiem  !  Then  his  cry  for  help 
was  desperate.  He  was  ready  for  any  sacrifice, 
to  lose  the  fettered  limb,  that  he  might  save  his 
life. 


CHRIST   THE    ENLIGHTENER    OP   MEN.  203 

Before  the  hour  of  desperation  comes,  before 
the  tide  of  eternity  pours  in  upon  you.  be  aroused 
by  the  hope  of  immortal  life,  to  gain  deliverance 
through  the  one  only  Saviour. 


XVII. 


CHRIST  MANIFEST   TO   ALL. 


STRANGE  footstep  on  Gentile  terri- 
tory !  For  the  first  tiine  in  His  crowded 
ministry  the  Lord  had  left  the  sacred 
soil  of  Israel.  Once  He  would  go  out  beyond 
its  borders,  as  in  significant  symbol  of  the  out- 
reaching  and  world-embracing  compass  of  His 
mission.  Once  He  would  leave  a  foot-print  of 
His  own  pointing  toward  the  realms  of  the  Gen- 
tiles, out  into  the  darkness  and  foulness  and 
misery  of  the  wifle-sprcading  nations,  into  which 
His  followers  might  plant  their  own  and  by  the 
sight  of  which  they  might  learn  the  lesson  of 
their  work  and  see  the  sign  of  the  way  they 
should  afterward  take.  That  foot-mark  of  the 
Redeemer  pointing  outward  indicated  the  track 
of  the  Gospel.  Though  He  was  sent  but  unto 
the  lost  sheep  of  the  House  of  Israel,  His  Gos- 
pel was  for  all  the  lost  of  every  nationality. 
Though  for  reasons  which  lay  undisclosed  in  the 
divine  prudence  His  own  work  was  to  be  among 
the  people  of  His  earthly  parentage,  yet  His 
living  and  His  dying  were  for  all  the  world.  He 
was  the  Brother  of  ever}'  man  and  the    Saviour 

[205] 


206  THE    MODEL    LIFE. 

of  every  man.  Gladly  would  He  have  passed 
over  the  boundaries  of  the  Hebrew  possession 
and  set  His  foot  on  every  shore.  Gladly  would 
He  have  spoken  to  the  men  of  every  speech  in 
their  own  tongue,  and  taken  hold  with  His  lov- 
ing- and  strong  hand  of  all  the  down-cast  and 
crushed.  That  He  went  out  once  was  a  revela- 
tion of  His  heart,  a  sign  to  His  successors.  That 
foot-print  was  long  ago  washed  out  by  the 
storms  that  swept  down  from  Lebanon  :  but  the 
lesson  of  it  endures  like  Lebanon  itself!  In  the 
valleys  folded  by  its  wild  ranges  and  under  the 
shadow  of  its  snowy  cliffs  His  ministers  are  tell- 
ing  to-day  to  the  dwellers  there  the  story  of  His 
love  and  death.  Farther  than  the  flags  of  the 
Tyrian  vessels  ever  flew  His  disciples  have 
carried  His  Gospel. 

He  went  at  this  time  into  the  borders  of  Tyre 
and  Sidon  to  escape,  on  the  one  hand,  the  Jews 
who  were  busily  plotting  His  overthrow  and, 
on  the  other  hand,  Herod,  whose  aroused  con- 
science was  pricking  him  to  some  deed  of  des- 
peration. There,  He  entered  into  a  house,  and 
would  have  no  man  know  it.  Over  in  the  pagan 
territory,  He  might  hope  to  find  the  relief  and 
repose  and  recuperation  which  He  •  >uld  not 
fmd  in  Galilee,  where  His  miracles  had  aroused 
intensest  interest  and  His  words  had  awakened 
popular  enthusiasm.  It  was  a  place  of  rest  and 
retirement.  The  white  rocks  of  Lebanon,  in 
their  substantial  majesty  and   high  repose,  shed 


CHRIST    MANIFEST    TO    ALL.         '  207 

down  their  graciousness  and  strength  into  His 
weary  and  troubled  spirit.  The  cool  air  from 
the  unmelted  snows  bathed  His  heated  temples 
and  the  perfume  of  the  fragrant  cedars  cheered 
Him  as  a  cordial.  Around  that  dwelling  the 
mountain  birds  were  singing  their  wild  songs 
and  over  it  the  shadow  and  the  sunshine  chased 
each  other  in  still  playfulness.  The  silence  was 
sweet.  There  time  kept  perpetual  Sabbath. 
The  toil  and  turbulence  of  the  towns  were  far 
away.  There  was  stillness  like  that  of  the  fall- 
ing of  dew.  And  there  was  sweetness  like  the 
scented  breath  of  morning.  Surely  there  the 
Lord  might  rest.  His  tired  soul  and  His  hunted 
body  might  lie  down  together  untroubled.  He 
would  have  no  man  know  that  He  was  there. 
For  a  while,  till  He  could  recover  Himself,  He 
would  remain  still  and  solitary.  Noon  should 
be  as  midnight.  Not  a  bird  of  the  air  nor  a 
wanton  wind  should  tell  of  the  Lord.  Men,  as 
they  passed  by,  bold  mountaineers  from  the 
chase,  husbandmen  of  the  plains  with  their  hands 
full  of  seeds  for  planting,  should  not  know  that 
there  a  King  was  sleeping  and  that  more  than  a 
palace  stood  by  that  unguarded  roadside.  He 
woidd  be  unknown,  wholly  unrecognized. 

But  He  could  not  be  hid  1  As  the  fragrance 
of  spices  tills  the  atmosphere  and  the  aroma  of 
roses  reveals  their  presence,  as  the  loadstone 
attracts  metallic  iron  and  the  pole  directs  and 
holds  the  trembling  needle,  as  the   majest}'   of 


20S  THE    MODEL    LIFE. 

men  stands  forth  through  all  disguises  and 
royalty  is  disclosed  in  look  and  tone  and  posture, 
so  Clirist  could  not  be  hid.  Divinity  asserts 
itself.  Where  Christ  was  there  He  was  known 
to  be.  The  closed  house  could  not  contain  Him. 
The  guardianship  of  watchful  and  faithful 
disciples  could  not  conceal  Him.  The  deep 
woods  and  the  bold  mountain  ranges  around 
could  not  shut  Him  in.  Lebanon  could  not 
inipiison  its  God.  The  coasts  of  Tyre  and 
Sidon  were  not  remote  enough  to  leave  His 
great  name  and  fame  behind.  He  had  traveled 
far,  farther  from  Bethlehem,  the  spot  of  His 
birth  and  from  Jerusalem,  the  capital  and  joy 
of  His  people,  than  ever  before,  but  not  far 
enough  yet  to  be  hidden.  No  silence  was  deep 
enough  to  exclude  all  voice  of  Him.  No  seclu- 
sion was  profound  enough  to  enclose  all 
knowledge  of  Him.  He  could  not  be  hidden. 
The  Scripture  does  not  say.  He  was  not  hid. 
It  is  a  bolder,  stronger  statement  :  He  could 
not  be  hid.  He  was  self-revealing.  He  was 
wanted.  Within  those  pagan  coasts  were 
hearts  that  were  aching  for  Him.  Hungry  and 
thirsty,  there  was  but  0)ie  who  could  feed  them 
and  give  them  living  water.  The  heathen 
world  was  waiting  for  His  coming.  And  when 
once  His  divine  footsteps  invaded  its  dark  and 
bloody  soil  He  was  welcomed  as  a  Deliverer. 
He  came  unto  His  own  and  His  own  received 
Him  not.     He  went  unto  the  outcasts  and  the 


CltRIST    MANIFEST   TO    ALL.  209 

pagans  and  He  was  hailed  as  Lord.  He  was 
not  sent  but  unto  the  lost  sheep  of  the  House  of 
Israel.  But  other  sheep  He  had  which  were 
not  of  that  fold,  on  the  strange,  dark  mountains. 
Many  want  Ciirist  who  have  never  seen  Him 
nor  read  His  gospel.  In  all  heathen  lands  there 
are  burdened  and  longing  souls  who  only  wait 
for  the  announcement  of  the  Saviour.  This 
they  say,  is  what  we  have  longed  to  hear  :  now 
there  is  life  for  us. 

He  could  not  be  hid.  For  a  certain  woman, 
whose  young  daughter  had  an  unclean  spirit, 
heard  of  Him,  and  came  and  fell  at  His  feet.  A 
year  before  this,  in  His  ministry  near  Caper- 
naum, a  great  multitude  of  people  out  of  all 
Judea  and  Jerusalem,  and  from  the  sea-coast  of 
Tyre  and  Sidon,  had  come  to  hear  Him  and  to 
be  healed  of  their  diseases.  They  had  carried 
back  to  their  homes  the  account  of  the  wonder- 
ful Teacher  and  Healer.  And  this  poor  woman, 
for  she  was  a  S}' ro[)hoenician  by  nation,  had  heard 
how  virtue  went  out  of  Him  and  healed  them  all 
of  whatsoever  disease  they  had.  And  perhaps 
some  of  His  precious  words  had  also  been  carried 
to  her  which  she  had  treasured  in  her  heart  for 
months.  She  was  a  heathen.  She  belonged  to 
an  accursed  stock,  to  the  doomed  Canaanites, 
some  of  whom  had  been  somehow  spared.  But 
she  had  heard  of  Christ,  and  that  had  given  hope 
to  her  life  and  light  to  her  darkness  and  patience 
to  bear  all  her  troubles.     And   now  this  divine 


210  THE    MODEL    LIFE. 

One  had  come  to  her  country  and  was  near  to 
her.  Hinv  she  knew  this  we  are  not  told.  It  is 
written  that  Christ  would  have  no  man  know 
that  He  was  there.  Also  that  He  could  not  be 
hid.  For  a  certain  w(jman  heard  of  Him  and 
came  and  fell  at  His  feet.  Did  her  terrible  want 
direct  her  to  Christ,  as  the  needle  sways  and 
trembles  till  it  points  to  the  pole?  Did  her 
bursting  heart  feel  its  way  to  the  Saviour,  when 
her  eyes  had  not  yet  seen  Him  and  no  voice  had 
told  her  of  His  coming?  Or  lu^d  some  faintest 
whisper  crept  along  the  foot  of  Lebanon  that  a 
stranger  had  entered  quietly  into  a  house,  and 
did  her  waiting,  longing  soul  interpret  and  pro- 
phesy that  it  was  He  ?  She  lost  no  time  :  she 
was  at  His  feet  and  her  cry  was,  "  Have  mercy 
on  me,  O  Lord."  "  And  she  besought  Him  that 
He  would  cast  forth  the  devil  out  of  her 
daughter."  Her  daughter's  case  was  her  own 
case.  The  mother's  heart  enfolded  the  child. 
And  it  was  one  cry,  Have  mercy  on  me,  Have 
mercy  on  my  daughter.  So  said  the  father  of  the 
lunatic  son,  "  FLave  compassion  on  ?/^and  help  us.'' 
The  father  and  his  boy  stood  and  fell  together. 
Compassion  on  one  was  compassion  on  both. 
So  cry  all  true  hearts  of  fathers  and  of  mothers. 
There  is  no  joy  to  them  while  their  children  are 
in  sorrow  :  no  light  for  their  feet  while  the  feet 
of  sons  and  daughters  walk  in  darkness ;  no 
heaven  for  them  to  look  up  to,  if  the  faces  of  the 
others  are  turned  to  hell. 


CHRIST    MANIFEST    TO    ALL.  211 

How  closely  the  words  stand  together,  "  O 
Lord,  have  mercy  on  me,  my  daughter  is  griev- 
ously vexed  with  a  devil."  They  suffered  to- 
gether :  and  mercy  for  one  would  be  mercy  for 
boih.  And  to-day  as  every  day,  they  are  many, 
like  this  S3^rophcenician,  who  are  falling  before 
the  Saviour  with  burdens  for  othei's  which  are 
also  their  own.  The  woes  of  one  heart  are  the 
woes  of  two.  By  the  side  of  the  suffering  sinner 
walks  the  sufTering  saint.  Heart  to  heart  the 
parent  accompanies  the  child.  His  life  is  spoiled 
while  the  life  of  the  other  is  spoiled.  The  cry 
for  the  boy's  life  is  the  cry  for  his  own  life.  The 
two  are  wound  up  in  affection  together.  Blood 
cements  them  and  love  which  is  stronger  than 
life.  Have  mercy  on  vie  is  the  cry  of  agony  as 
parents  bring  their  sons  and  daughters  in  prayer 
to  God.  Earth  hears  no  other  such  cry.  Heaven 
answers  to  no  other  such  supplication. 

Ever^'thing  was  against  this  woman.  On  her 
own  part  all  was  dark.  She  belonged  to  an 
accursed  stock.  She  was  a  pagan.  Jesus  was  a 
Jew:  and  the  Jews  looked  scornfully  upon  such 
as  she.  He  had  entered  her  country  not  for 
healing  and  teaching,  but  to  escape  them  both, 
and  to  get  rest  and  strength  for  His  work  among 
His  own  peo{)le.  On  His  part  then  there  was 
nothing  hopeful.  His  attendants  were  also  Jews 
from  wiiom  she  could  expect  onl}^  repulse.  Yet 
through  all  these  obstacles  she  urged  her  way 
and    her  petition.     It  was   enough    for  her  that 


212  THE   MODEL   LIFE. 

Christ  was  there,  within  rcacii  if  she  had  the  deter- 
mination to  reach  Mini.  She  had  heard  of  what 
He  had  done  elsewhere.  She  had  seen,  it  may 
be,  others  whom  He  had  restored.  He  was  a 
Saviour  for  just  such  as  she.  His  name  and  fame 
had  readied  heathendom.  And  she  would  goto 
Him  and  seek  the  greatest  boon.  It  was  a  you/i^ 
daughter  for  whom  she  would  plead.  There  is 
something  very  touching  in  that  phrase,  "  whose 
young  daughter  had  an  unclean  spiiit."  Ah  ! 
so  it  is  with  the  sinful  possession  often.  Into 
young  hearts  Satan  enters.  At  an  early  age 
we  see  the  developments  of  sin,  the  sad  proof 
that  the  soul  is  lost. 

For  the  young  Christ  is  wanted.  We  cannot 
plead  for  the  children  too  early,  that  they  may 
be  saved.  Far  easier  is  it  to  expel  these  posses- 
sions in  childhood,  than  when  they  have  become 
fortified  in  habit,  in  affection,  in  invincible  pur- 
pose. Easier  to  drive  out  the  enemy  behind  weak 
barricades  than  when  fortifications  have  been 
builded  of  adamant.  Be  earnest  for  the  young  ! 
Parent!  teacher!  now  is  the  time  for  the  earnest 
plea  with  Christ,  the  cry  of  the  soul  that  will 
take  no  denial.  Make  the  case  of  each  child,  one 
by  one,  your  own.  Let  30ur  prayer  be.  Have 
mercy  on  }iic  ! 

There  is  suggested  here  a  striking  contrast. 
In  the  first  twenty-three  verses  of  the  chapter 
we  have  the  painful  account  of  the  traditions 
and  ceremonial  of  the  self-righteous   Pharisees. 


CHRIST   MANIFEST    TO    ALL.  213 

Christ  was  with  them  :  He  was  ready  to  in. 
struct  them,  and  to  bless  them,  in  fact  to  save 
them.  They  were  of  His  own  nation  :  they  were 
the  lost  ones  of  the  House  of  Israel,  for  whom 
particularly  He  was  sent.  In  their  sight  His 
divine  miracles  were  wrought.  In  their  hearing 
His  divine  words  were  spoken.  He  offered 
them  Himself  and  all  that  He  could  do  for  them. 
Yet  He  was  hidden  to  them.  They  could  not, 
they  would  not  see  Him.  They  were  occupied 
with  the  washing  of  hands  before  eating,  the 
washing  of  cups  and  pots,  brazen  vessels,  and 
tables.  They  honored  God  with  their  lips  :  but 
their  heart  was  far  from  Him.  They  taught 
for  doctrines,  the  commandments  of  men.  They 
had  their  own  traditions:  and  these  were  more 
than  the  gospel  to  them,  making  void  the  word 
of  God.  Such  men  wore  the  life  out  of  Christ. 
They  would  not  be  saved  and  they  hindered 
others  from  being  saved.  They  would  not  enter 
into  the  Kingdom,  and  those  who  would  enter 
in  they  hindered. 

But  no  scjoncr  had  He  reached  a  pagan  coun- 
try than  He  could  not  be  hid.  If  he  had 
remained  there  probably  the  whole  people  would 
have  sought  Him,  and  that  beautiful  prophecy 
would  have  found  a  partial  fulfillment,  "  I  will 
give  thee  the  heathen  for  thine  inheritance." 
And  the  contrast  lasts.  Brought  up  with  the 
Bible  in  y(3ur  hands  and  in  your  language,  edu- 
cated by  pious  parents  and  teachers,  listening  to 


214  TIIK    :\I(>DKL    LIFE. 

the  g^ospcl  and  knowiiio^,  ackiiowlcdt^ini^  even,  its 
value,  you  do  not  accept  of  Clirist. 

Yet  shall  there  conie  anion<^  yini  one  from  a 
land  that  knows  not  Clirist  nor  the  Bible,  who 
has  had  no  religious  teaching,  no  Christian 
parentage,  no  privileges  such  as  belong  to  you 
and  have  always  been  enjoyed  by  you,  and  in  a 
short  residence  among  )'Ou  and  after  a  brief 
acquaintance  with  the  Bible,  he  shall  learn  such 
things  of  Christ  that  he  shall  want  Him  for  a 
Saviour  and  shall  see  such  wisdom  in  the  Bible 
that  he  shall  yield  to  its  instructions  and  shall 
believe  in  Chiist  and  shall  say,  "  jNIv  onl\'  desire 
is  to  confess  before  men  that  I  accept  Him  as 
ni}'  Saviour  and  Redeemer."  "  And  1  desire  to 
connect  myself  with  His  Chuich  that  I  may 
hionor  Him  by  obeying  His  commandments  and 
by  living  a  life  devoted  to  His  service." 

The  men  of  Japan  and  of  China  shall  enter 
into  the  Kingdom  before  you  !  You  are  occu- 
pied with  your  vain  traditions.  They  accept  the 
living  word  of  God.  You  put  faith  in  morali- 
ties. They  put  faith  in  Christ.  You  put  off 
your  dut}'.  They  perform  it.  You  stay  out  of 
the  Kingdom.  They  press  into  it.  Forms  aie 
one  thing:  the  need  of  the  soul  is  another. 
There  is  avast  difference  between  mere  morality 
and  true  faith.  There  is  an  eternal  difference 
between  tlie  world  and  Christ.  You  may  be 
lost;   while  they  are  saved. 

The  Syrophcjenician  woman  was  at  the  feet  of 


CHRIST   MANIFEST   TO    ALL.  215 

Christ.  "  But  He  answered  her  not  a  word." 
As  Chrysostom  says,  "  The  Word  has  no  word." 
The  Lord  is  silent.  He  seems  to  have  even 
turned  away  from  her  and  moved  on.  But  she 
cried  after  Him,  so  that  the  disciples  besought 
Him  to  send  her  away.  Then  His  speech 
seemed  harder  than  His  silence.  **  I  am  not 
sent  but  unto  the  lost  sheep  of  the  House  of 
Israel."  She  came  closer  then  :  and  there  was 
a  deeper  earnestness  in  her  voice,  as  she  said 
onl}^,  "  Lord,  help  me."  That  cry  surely  must 
avail.  Yet  the  Lord  coldly  said,  "  It  is  not  meet 
to  take  the  children's  bread  and  cast  it  to  dogs." 
The  Jews  considered  and  treated  all  other  people 
as  barbarians  and  dogs.  And  Christ  uses  their 
language  to  try  her  faith.  Was  there  ever  such 
trial  ?  Silence :  cold  speech :  contemptuous 
reproach.  Dogs!  Can  the  crushed  woman 
bear  that?  Will  she  not  now  despair?  Will 
she  not  go  away,  humbled,  broken,  ready  to  give 
over  and  to  feel  that  all  is  lost. 

So  would  it  have  been  with  many.  They 
could  not  have  persevered  through  such 
obstacles,  indignities.  But  out  of  her  despair 
she  wrenched  an  argument.  In  her  misery  she 
used,  as  one  has  called  it,  "  the  ready  wit  of 
faith."  Listen  to  her.  "  Truth,  Lord  ;  yet  the 
dogs  under  the  table  eat  of  the  children's  crumbs." 
She  accepts  the  Lord's  own  word  ;  takes  the 
title  and  the  place,  the  lowest  place,  yet  the 
place    where  crumbs   of  mercy  fall.     As    Luther 


216  THE    M(^DEL    LIFE. 

says,  "  She  snares  Christ  in  His  own  words." 
She  was  willing  to  take  the  dog's  phice  if  only 
the  wasted  food  of  the  children  could  be  her 
own.  Anywhere,  anything,  if  only  she  could  be 
blessed  !  A  dog  !  if  so  Christ  could  be  hers. 
"  A  slave  of  Jesus  Christ  "  wrote  one  of  himself 
who  was  far  greater  than  she,  a  man  of  learn- 
ing and  of  ancestral  pride  and  who  boasted  that 
he  was  a  free-born  citizen  of  Rome.  A  slave  ! 
so  that  Christ  should  be  the  Master.  The  oflf- 
scouring  of  all  things,  the  filth  of  the  world,  if  only 
for  the  sake  of  Christ.  "  Make  me  as  one  of  thy 
hired  servants  "  pleaded  the  prodigal,  so  that 
once  more  1  may  be  within  the  father's,  vty 
father's,  house.  Though  the  Lord  be  high,  yet 
hath  He  respect  unto  the  lowly.  Blessed  are 
the  poor  in  spirit,  for  theirs  is  the  kingdom  of 
heaven.  At  the  feet  of  Christ  is  more  than  to  be 
on  a  worldly  throne.  That  is  the  place  of  faith. 
And  then  came  victor3\  The  Svrophoenician 
woman  conquered  in  her  lowliness.  She  knew 
the  /uari  of  Christ  before  and  to  her  eye  of 
faith  it  was  not  concealed  by  His  words  and 
manner,  by  coldness  and  repulse.  She  trusted 
His  heart ;  and  now  it  was  revealed  to  her.  "  O 
woman  !"  He  said,  *'  great  is  thy  faith  !  Be  it 
unto  thee  even  as  thou  wilt!"  "  For  this  saying, 
go  thy  way,  the  devil  is  gone  out  of  thy  daugh- 
ter." It  was  no  longer  a  man,  in  the  garb  of  a 
Jew,  who  stood  before  her.  It  was  the  Lord 
Himself.     It   was    the  King  in  His  beauty  and 


CHRIST    MANIFEST   TO    ALL.  217 

benignity.  His  words  now  were  all  gracious- 
ness  and  benediction.  His  largesses  were  royal. 
He  spoke  and  He  gave  as  a  King.  Only  to  one 
other,  in  His  earthly  life,  did  He  give  such  com- 
mendation, and  that  other  was  a  Gentile  also. 
Of  a  Roman  centurion  He  said,  "  1  have  not 
found  so  great  faith,  no,  not  in  Israel."  Faith 
conquers  all  things  ;  it  conquers  Christ.  It  con- 
quers by  the  might  \vhich  He  gives.  For  it  is 
"  according  to  His  working  which  worketh  in  us 
mightily." 

Faith  looks  to  the  right  source.  It  trusts  in 
One  who  is  able  and  willing  to  bestow  in  His  own 
time  and  way. 

Faith  zvaits :  waits  tiirough  the  whole  trial, 
though  it  be  through  agony,  through  lowest 
humiliation,  through  heaviest  loss.  Faith  holds 
fast  :  it  holds  on  though  the  hand  be  smitten  and 
wounded  and  bleeding.  It  cries  with  the  patri- 
arch at  Peniel,  "  I  will  not  let  thee  go,  except 
thou  bless  me."  Faith  has  an  overcoming 
power.  By  it  the  weaker  vanquishes  the 
stronger.  By  it  the  paralytic  overcame  material 
obstacles  that  he  might  be  placed  "  before  Jesus." 
By  it  blind  Bartimeus  overcame  the  opposition 
of  his  fellow-men  that  he  might  come  to  Jesus. 
And  by  it  this  weak  pagan  woman,  in  a  land  of 
heathen,  overcame  Christ  Himself.  "Great  is 
thy  faith."  So  is  challenged  our  regard  and 
imitation.  Our  imitation  !  To  that  are  we 
brought.     To   low   faith  come   scant   blessings. 


218  THE    MODEL    LIFE. 

To  stroiif^,  invincible  faith,  that  will  take  no 
denial,  that  will  trust  God  thou<^h  He  smite  the 
believer,  that  will  cry  out  of  the  deepest  humili- 
ation, "  Lord,  help  me,"  will  come  at  length  the 
royal  answer,  "  Be  it  unto  thee  even  as  thou  wilt." 
Faith  wears  the  crown  this  side  of  heaven. 
"  Even  as  thou  wilt."  So  the  believer  ascends 
the  throne  and  wears  the  crown.  His  will  be- 
comes imperial.  But  it  costs  something.  Great 
thrones  are  gained  through  great  struggles, 
through  blood.  "  Ye  have  not  yet  resisted  unto 
blood,  striving  against  sin,"  writes  the  Apostle 
to  the  Hebrew  Christians  whom  he  points  to 
"  Jesus,  the  author  and  finisher  of  our  faith." 
The  Syrophoenician  woman  went  very  low  but 
she  gained  her  request.  "  Her  daughter  was 
made  whole  from  that  very  hour."  Her  faith 
was  the  channel  through  which  Christ's  power 
poured  in  blessing.  She  was  the  conductor  by 
which  the  more  than  electric  current  ran  from 
the  Saviour  to  the  saved.  She  stood  between  the 
living  and  the  dead.  And  through  her  life  and 
restoration  passed  over  to  her  daughter.  "  When 
she  was  come  to  her  house,  she  found  the  devil 
gone  out  and  her  daughter  laid  upon  the  bed." 
The  long  sad  days  of  paroxysm  and  vexation 
were  over,  and  there  was  rest  and  peace  and 
soundness. 

Have  you,  parents  of  children,  teachers  of 
children,  been  offering  the  prayer,  Have  mercy 
on    me,    O    Lord,    my    daughter,    my    son,    my 


CHRIST    MANIFEST   TO   ALL.  219 

scholar,  *  *  and  then  told  the  story  of  your 
woe?  Unanswered,  tried,  sorely  amazed  be- 
cause of  what  )'ou  have  heard  and  known  of 
Christ,  and  now  see  of  Him,  have  you  still, 
against  advice  of  others,  against  uprisings  of 
your  own  heart,  against  the  provocations  of 
delay,  held  on,  held  steadily  there,  to  Christ 
alone,  with  the  one  plea,  "  Lord,  help  me  ?" 
Have  you  felt  that  your  son  or  daughter  or 
brother  or  husband  tiiust  be  saved  and  that  there 
was  no  real  joy  for  you  till  the  rescue  came  ? 
That  is  the  wa}'  of  faith.  That  is  the  way  to 
victory.  The  low  place  is  the  next  place  to  the 
throne.  The  deepest  darkness  is  just  before  the 
dawn.  Sorest  trials  precede  surest  answers. 
Delay  is  not  denial.  Denial  may  be  only  trial. 
It  may  be  only  outward  and  in  words:  while 
the  gracious,  full  answering  awaits  you.  We 
may  not  fully  answer  the  question,  WJiy  God  so 
tiics  the  faith  of  His  true  children.  But  we 
know  that  it  brings  forth  a  purer  and  stronger 
faith.  That  word  which  has  in  it  benediction 
and  coronation,  "  Be  it  unto  thee  even  as  thou 
wilt,"  is  onlv  spoken  when  He  can  also  say, 
"  Great  is  thy  faith."  That  word  which  lifts 
saints  to  the  side  of  Christ,  that  they  also  may 
sit  on  thrones,  follows  a  trust  that  has  been 
sorely,  bitterly  tried  and  has  not  been  found 
wanting.  "  Said  1  not  unto  thee,  that  if  thou 
wouldst  believe,  thou  shouldst  see  the  glory   of 


220  I'lm    MODEL    LIFE. 

God?"  The  saint's  own  victory,  the  healing, 
the  conversion,  the  immortal  life  of  those  that  are 
his  and  for  whom  his  unfailinuf  prayer  was  lifted, 
and  the  bright  heaven  at  last,  are  the  sure 
reward. 


XVIIT. 

THE    UNSELFISH   CHRIST. 

ICTION  has  wrought  its  finest  charac- 
terization in  self-sacrifice  and  devotion 
for  others.  Its  ideal  heroes  have  been 
those  who  have  not  consulted  their  own  interest 
or  happiness,  but  who  have  willingly  or  sponta- 
neously or  passionately  offered  themselves  to 
rescue  others  from  a  dreaded  fate  or  to  crown 
them  with  a  coveted  delight.  For  this  they 
have  exposed  themselves  to  certain  peril :  they 
have  given  up  their  own  undoubted  rights 
or  possessions  :  they  have  relinquished  and 
smothered  the  love  that  has  been  their  brightest 
dowr}^  and  doomed  themselves  to  loneliness 
and  sorrow  and  want  that  they  might  make 
cheerful  and  rich  and  useful  other  lives,  that 
they  might  make  other  paths  smooth,  though 
their  own  should  thereby  be  made  rough  and 
rocky.  This  self-abnegation  is  the  crown  of 
heroic  sacrifice.  It  gives  nobility  to  plebeian 
blood.  It  glorifies  aristocratic  descent.  It  puts 
manhood  foremost.  It  makes  him  chief  who 
possesses  it  whether  he  holds  titles  from  noble 
ancestry   or  springs  from  common  stock.     But 

[221] 


222  TIIIO    MoDICr.    LIFK. 

especially  do  the  writers  of  fiction  enjoy  the 
giving  of  this  excellent  grace  to  those  who 
stand  high  without  it  ;  as  though  more  than 
name  and  culture  and  blood  and  noble  rank 
M'ere  the  heraldry  of  genuine  humanity,  the 
devotion  of  the  true  soul  to  another's  welfare. 
He,  who  has  inherited  an  illustrious  name,  in 
whose  paternal  halls  hang  the  likenesses  of  heroes, 
who  looks  out  on  broad  ancestral  possessions, 
who  holds  the  keys  of  social  eminence  and 
political  power  and  vast  wealth,  for  whom  it  is 
eas}-^  to  possess  and  enjoy  all  that  the  world  can 
give  to  its  votaries,  who  is  courted  and  loved 
and  obeyed  and  served,  is  made  to  be  greater 
and  nobler  and  more  opulent  by  a  glad  and  full 
self-offering  in  which  he  sacrifices  everything 
but  his  own  regal  manhood,  everything  outside 
of  himself,  that  himself  may  be  more  illustrious 
and  grand. 

But  in  this,  fiction  works  from  life.  It  draws  its 
imaginary  picture  from  actual  reality.  The  great 
characters  of  history  are  the  men  and  women  who 
have  sacrificed  most.  These  are  the}'  who  have 
been  lauded  in  the  verse  of  poets,  who  have  in- 
spired the  eloquence  of  orators,  who  have  given 
charm  and  picturesqueness  and  power  to  naria- 
tive,  who  are  held  up  as  examples  to  stimulate 
the  young  and  the  aspiring. 

It  is  not  those  who  have  pleased  themselves, 
who  have  lived  merely  for  their  own  enjo3'ment, 
who  have  been  satisfied  to   hold  and    improve 


THE   UNSELFISH    CHRIST.  223 

what  they  have  received,  who  have  made  them- 
selves the  center  and  have  wished  all  things  to 
be  tributary  to  their  personal  happiness  and  ag- 
grandizement ;  it  is  not  those  who  have  made  the 
world's  history  luminous,  who  have  poured  sun- 
shine and  glory  on  the  annals  of  their  time  and 
nation :  but  rather  those  who  have  cheerfully 
given  up  their  possessions  and  their  rank  and 
their  services  and  themselves  with  all  their  en- 
dowments and  advantages  and  influence  and  per- 
sonal power  to  secure  the  rights  and  the  liberties 
and  the  enjoyment  of  others.  This  devotion  has 
been  higher  than  any  title  of  nobility.  It  has 
brought  the  high-born  and  the  base-born  on  to  a 
common  level  and  has  shown  that  manhood  is 
the  chief  title  and  that  service  is  the  noblest 
rank.  He  is  honored  in  all  true  history  who  out 
of  discouraging  environment  has  struggled  up 
into  a  place  where  he  could  devote  his  strength 
to  the  welfare  of  his  fellows,  as  he  also  has  been 
who,  possessing  everything  that  could  satisfy  his 
personal  wants,  has  counted  it  his  personal  priv- 
ilege to  deny  himself  that  he  might  minister  to 
others.  It  was  when  Sir  Philip  Sidney,  wounded 
on  the  battle-field,  refused  the  cup  of  cold  water 
that  a  dying  soldier  near  him  might  be  refreshed 
by  it,  that  his  gentleness  and  gi^eatness  shone  out 
more  than  when  he  enjoyed  abundance  in  the 
banquet-room  of  his  castle.  It  was  when  the  first 
soldier  of  our  time  and  land  lay  among  his  men 
on  the  ground  with  only  the  heavens  for  his  cov- 


224:  THE    MODEL    LIFE. 

ering  and  marched  with  them,  as  one  of  tlicm, 
in  his  determined  endeavor  to  cut  off  Vicksburgf 
from  support  in  the  rear,  that  his  heroic  purpose 
was  revealed  more  than  when  he  directed  some 
great  action  with  liis  staff  around  him  or  rode  at 
the  head  of  his  troops  at  some  jiroud  review. 

Self-denial,  humiliation,  sacrifice,  are  the  high- 
est honors.  These  put  the  crown  on  men.  In 
all  benevolent  work,  in  the  blessed  missionar}'- 
imdertakings,  in  that  consecration  which  leads 
men  of  humanity  and  sympathy  and  love  to  give 
tlieir  lives  for  the  uplifting  and  relief  and  salva- 
tion of  degraded  and  miserable  men,  we  see  the 
daily  and  noble  illustrations  of  what  they  are 
and  of  what  they  can  accomplish  who  do  not 
|)lease  themselves,  but  who  hold  themselves  to 
be  the  servants  of  their  fellows  and  the  servants 
of  their  divine  Lord. 

"  Christ  pleased  not  Himself."  This  is  said 
with  reference  to  His  extraordinary  work  for  us. 
It  was  something  new  that  He  did  not  please 
Himself.  He  had  found  pleasure  during  His 
eternal  existence  in  His  communion  with  the 
Father  and  tise  S[)irit.  They  had  enjoyed  their 
mysterious  and  infinite  being.  In  their  great 
thoughts,  their  counsels,  which  embraced  all 
space  and  all  duration  and  all  possible  creations, 
in  their  warm  and  infinite  affections  which  were 
full  of  harmony  and  sweetness,  in  their  sublime 
purposes  which  laid  hold  of  the  greatest  good 
which  the}'  could  accomplish  as  they  introduced 


THE   UNSELFISH   CHRIST.  225 

one  order  after  another  of  beings  into  sensitive 
and  enduring  life,  Christ  had  pleased  Himself. 

And,  as  that  one  of  the  sacred  Persons  who 
was  charged  with  the  responsibility  of  Creation, 
He  had  pleased  Himself  in  calling  forth  upon 
different  spheres  and  scenes  responsible  agents, 
made  in  His  own  image,  made  as  nearly  like 
Godhead  as  finite  existences  can  be  like  infinite  ; 
inhabitants  of  His  own  heaven,  retainers  of  His 
palace,  servants  of  His  throne,  swift  as  light  and 
burning  as  fire  to  do  His  will ;  inhabitants  of 
other  worlds  fitted  in  their  endowments  for  life 
where  they  were  placed,  fitted  to  learn  and 
achieve  and  grow,  to  grow  steadil}'  throughout 
an  existence  which,  begun,  should  never  end, 
fitted  to  enjoy  or  to  suffer  according  to  their  use 
or  misuse  of  themselves  and  their  surroundings, 
fitted  also  as  a  chief  endowment  to  decide  on 
their  own  course,  their  own  character,  and  so  on 
their  own  destiny.  He  had  pleased  Himself  in 
launching  from  His  Almighty  hand  the  number- 
less worlds  which  crowd  the  heavens,  and  giving 
them  their  appointed  orbits  so  that  they  move 
without  discord  on  their  separate  but  harmon- 
ious paths,  those  heavenly  choirs,  without  speech, 
without  language,  whose  voice  is  not  heard,  yet 
whose  resonant  line  has  gone  into  all  the  earth 
and  their  words  unto  the  end  of  the  world  :  in 
covering  each  world  with  its  own  wonderful 
draper}'  of  organized  life,  trees  that  live  for  a 
thousand  years  and  perpetuate  themselves,  flow- 


226  THE   MODKL    LIFE. 

ers  that  bloom  in  almost  infinite  variety  and 
beauty  and  fragrance,  fruits  that  refresh  and 
please  and  satisfy  :  in  peopling  air  and  earth  and 
water  with  their  peculiar  and  appropriate  deni- 
zens: and  in  giving  to  all  these  their  approi)riate 
and  protecting  and  unchanging  and  luiiversal 
laws. 

In  all  this,  anil  in  much  more  of  which  we  do 
not  know,  and  which  we  cannot  even  imagine, 
Christ  had  been  accustomed  to  please  Himself. 

But  a  new  work  stood  before  Him  ;  a  new 
endeavor  rose  to  His  choice.  A  world  had 
swung  out  of  harmon3\  A  race  had  sacrificed 
their  birthright:  had  dishonored  their  Creator: 
had  entered  on  a  black  career  of  sin.  The  ques- 
tion arose  whether  they  should  be  saved.  The 
problem,  new,  strange,  momentous,  confronted 
Christ,  whether  He  would  save  them. 

We  do  not  know  how  much  it  involved.  There 
are  m3'Sterious  hints  in  Scripture  that  it  involved 
personal  sacrifices  into  the  meaning  of  which  we 
are  unfitted  to  enter,  sacrifices  which  God  only 
could  take  the  measure  of,  which  had  respect 
solel}'^  to  the  relations  of  the  divine  Trinity. 

But  we  know  some  things,  enough  to  show  us 
that  when  Christ  decided  on  the  enterprise  of 
our  salvation.  He  took  on  Ilim  a  burden  the  like 
of  which  had  never  been  b(jrne,  and  which  His 
shoulders  onl)^  were  strong  enough  to  bear.  We 
have  never  stood  where  He  was  when  He  came 
to  that   decision.     We    have   never  yet  entered 


THE    UNSELFISH    CHRIST.  227 

that  world  that  was  His  home.  Our  eyes  have 
not  seen  its  furniture.  Our  ears  have  not  heard 
its  music.  Our  minds  have  not  formed  the  con- 
ception of  its  glory  and  its  wealth.  We  have 
not  seen  God,  nor  the  throne  of  God,  nor  the 
palace  of  the  One  King.  But  we  have  heard 
something  of  it.  There  have  been  wonderful 
revelations  about  it  in  the  Book.  And  some- 
times we  have  had  such  longings  to  know  more 
of  it  that  some  of  us  would  willingly  die  to  know. 
But  this  matter  of  our  salvation  involved 
exile  from  that  world,  discrowning  of  that  King, 
abandonment  of  that  throne,  separation  from 
those  who  dwelt  there.  "  Christ  pleased  not 
Himself."  To  the  amazement  of  angels,  He  left. 
The  crown  that  had  never  been  tarnished  was 
laid  aside.  He  had  always  worn  it  till  then. 
The  throne  which  had  forever  known  Him  as  the 
Eternal  King  was  forsaken.  The  Father,  with 
whom  He  had  dwelt  before  the  morning  stars 
sang  together,  in  the  old  eternity,  when  there 
was  but  one  Being  in  the  universe,  and  He  ivas 
enough  to  fill  it,  was  left.  All  that  made  heaven, 
its  society,  its  glory  and  beauty,  its  worship,  its 
uninterrupted  blessedness,  all  were  left.  It 
could  not  please  Him.  He  loved  that  world  ;  all 
who  dwelt  there,  all  that  transpired  there,  all 
that  He  had  been  used  to  there,  beyond  any  love 
that  we  can  imagine.  He  went  forth  to  a  home- 
sickness that  never  had  a  parallel.  He  went  out 
with  a  heartsickness  that  Christ  only  could  bear. 


225  THE  Model  lifb!. 

Here  we  find  one  deep  meaning  of  the  words, 
"  Christ  pleased  not  himself,"  He  had  love.  Old 
associations  were  dear  to  Him.  Old  friendships 
were  infinitely  precious  to  Him.  He  could  not 
break  away  without  sundering  ties  that  were 
infinitely  strong  and  sacred  and  sweet.  Let  us 
not  think  it  was  God  who  did  it,  unless  we 
impute  to  the  God  who  did  it,  Godlike  affection. 
Godlike  strengtii  of  attachment,  infinite  tender- 
ness of  association  and  endearment.  He  broke  it 
all.  He  gave  up  everything.  He  sacrificed 
everything  that  was  precious  and  then — Himself. 

Not  only  was  the  glorious  abode  that  had 
always  been  His  to  be  renounced,  but  He,  if  our 
salvation  were  to  be  undertaken,  was  to  endure  a 
humiliation  greater  than  had  ever  before  been 
seen.  It  was  the  supreme  humiliation  of  the 
universe  !  For  the  Creator  to  take  the  place  of 
a  creature  were  a  lowly  and  a  displeasing  thing  to 
do.  But  that  was  not  the  extent  of  Christ's 
descent.  That  was  only  the  beginning  of  it. 
That  excited  wonder  and  consternation  among 
the  angels  who  had  always  seen  Him  in  tiie  first 
place  of  heaven  ;  and  Judea  was  filled  with  their 
anxious  and  excited  repiesentatives  when  the 
miracle  of  Bethlehem  occurred.  In  that  lowly 
manger  was  one  who  had  been  used  to  an 
unequalcd  throne.  In  that  puny  form  was  the 
nature  of  Divinity.  Hidden  in  that  innocent 
guise  was  the  adorable  God.  He  wiio  had  made 
all  things  and  controlled  all  things  by  the  word 


THE    UNSELFISH    CHRIST.  229 

of  His  power,  was  now  in  tiie  place  of  helpless- 
ness, a  babe  in  the  arms  of  a  human  mother.  It 
behooved  Him  to  be  made  like  unto  His  brethren. 
If  He  would  be  the  Mediator  between  God  and 
man  it  was  necessary  that  He  who  had  experi- 
enced all  that  there  is  in  G(jdhead  should  experi- 
ence all  that  there  is  in  humanity.  So  He 
became  like  unto  us  and  went  through  all  that 
we  go  through  in  our  life  of  growth  and  develop- 
ment. And  the  Sciiptures  are  careful  to  speak 
of  His  growth  in  stature  and  in  wisdom  and  in 
favor  with  God  and  men. 

Now,  we  do  not  think  enough  even  of  this;  we 
do  not  realize  what  a  profound  condescension  it 
was. 

But,  as  I  said,  that  was  trifling  compared  with 
what  followed  it.  He  went  not  only  into  the 
place  of  loivlincss,  but  He  went  into  the  place  of 
weariness  and  unrecompensed  toil  and  thankless 
deeds  of  compassion.  Stand  with  Him  in  His 
frightful  temptation  :  stand  with  Him  at  the 
well  of  Samaria  :  stand  with  Him  among  the 
surging  multitudes  who  hung  on  his  words,  as 
He  pitifully  healed  the  sick,  the  sightless,  the 
dumb,  the  lame;  as  He  raised  the  dead;  as  He 
helped  the  miserable  and  the  sinful  into  light 
and  comfort  and  peace;  as  He  bore  the  griefs 
and  carried  the  sorrows  of  men.  Weary  days, 
weary  nights,  fasting,  cold,  desertion,  dread 
loneliness,  were  His.  But  that  was  not  all,  nor 
the  worst.     He  was  denied,  He  was  betrayed, 


230  THE    MODKL    MFE. 

He  was  crucified.  He  saw  His  trusted  friends 
deserting  Him  and  He  saw  His  enemies  grati- 
fied in  His  overthrow  and  death.  There  is  a 
mysterious  awe  about  Gcthsemane  and  Calvary. 
The  profoundest  mystery  of  the  passion  we  do 
not  understand.  It  is  dimly  signified  to  us  in 
the  urgent  and  unanswered  prayers  of  Ihe 
garden  that  the  Father  would  permit  the  cup  U) 
pass  from  Him,  and  in  the  cry  of  the  cross,  My 
God,  My  God,  wh}-  hast  thou  forsaken  me! 
It  were  sad  enough  to  bear  tlie  load  of  human 
sins,  but  to  have  that  work  someway  sepaicitc 
Him  from  God,  hide  the  face  that  He  loved  so 
well,  that  was  beyond  endurance,  and  that  broke 
the  heart  of  Chiist. 

We  are  standing  now  near  to  the  truth, 
"Christ  pleased  not  Himself."  The  nearer  we 
come  to  the  cross,  the  more  we  realize  the 
endurance  of  our  Lord,  the  greater  will  be  our 
wonder,  and  the  greater  should  be  our  grati- 
tude, that  He  was  willing  U)  experience  such 
sufTerings  for  us. 

For  us  He  died.  He  was  happy  and  glo- 
rious witlK)ut  us:  and  would  iiave  been  if  we 
had  not  been  saved.  He  was  under  no  obliga- 
tion to  us,  nor  to  His  government,  nor  to  His 
own  character,  to  save  us.  Our  ruin  was  self- 
ruin.  Our  apostasy  was  voluntarv.  But  it 
was  gracious  and  noble  and  Godlike  in  Him  to 
doit.  It  was  an  eternal  honor  to  His  throne 
that  such    humiliation    was   permitted.     It    will 


THE    UNSKLFISIT    CHRIST.  231 

forever  be  the  brightest  glory  of  Godhead  that 
redemption  was  accomplished.  The  central 
symbol  and  characterization  of  heaven  is  the 
Lamb  slain.  Wherever  God  is  known,  wherever 
the  attributes  and  perfections  of  God  are  hon- 
ored, there  it  will  be  forever  known  and  cele- 
brated that  Christ  became  the  Redeemer  of 
men.  Though  He  did  not  please  Himself ; 
though  instead  of  the  joy  that  was  set  before 
Him,  He  endured  the  cross  and  became  obedi- 
ent unto  death  ;  yet  in  that  service  and  sacrifice 
was  His  peerless  honor. 

Let  us  not  seek  to  please  ourselves.  Let  us 
not  ask  what  is  the  easy  and  the  pleasant  way. 
Let  us  not  shirk  the  hard  and  painful  service  of 
our  Christian  profession.  Let  us  imitate  Christ. 
Let  us  cherish  the  heroic  spirit  of  the  martyr 
ages.  Let  us  be  like  the  young  Christian  who 
said  to  the  missionary  board.  Send  me  to  the 
hardest  place  :  or  like  another  who  said,  Let  me 
go  where  no  one  else  will  go.  Let  us  in  our 
work  for  our  adorable  Lord,  take  up  the  cross, 
deny  ourselves, sacrifice  personal  ease  and  indul- 
gence, that  we  may  in  all  ways  and  all  places, 
do  that  which  will  most  effectively  advance  the 
honor  and  kingdom  of  Him  who  pleased  not 
Himself  that  He  miglit  save  us. 


XIX. 

CHRIST   THE    REVEALER    OF    GOD. 

GREAT  want  of  our  race  is  the  knowl- 
edge of  God.  All  men,  for  we  throw 
entirely  out  of  the  account  the  fools  who 
have  denied  the  existence  of  their  Maker,  have 
felt  their  accountability  to  some  superior  intel- 
ligence, some  divine  Being,  in  whose  controlling 
hand  thev  are  and  before  whom  they  are  to 
stand  for  the  decisive  investigations  of  the 
world's  great  clay.  By  whatsoever  name  they 
have  called  Him,  under  whatever  form  the}'^ 
have  conceived  t)f  His  existence,  it  has  been  a 
relief  to  them  to  think  that  there  is  one  over 
them  to  whose  sway  they  are  subject  and  that 
the  world  is  not  driven  forward  by  blind  chance 
and  that  they  themselves  are  not  bound  down  by 
an  unrelenting  fate. 

Various  indeed  have  been  their  notions  of 
God.  The  mystical  and  philosophic  Brahman 
has  invented  a  divine  trinity  as  best  satisfying 
his  refined  speculations.  Grecian  and  Roman 
mythology  peopled  the  universe  with  gods  many. 
The  old  Teutonic  race  enthroned  a  deity  of 
power  above  the  ivcrld  whose  will  was  supreme 

[233] 


234-  THE    MODEL    LIFE. 

over  all  human  things.  Other  peoples,  unable 
to  distinguish  the  Creator  Irom  His  works,  have 
seen  God  in  the  sun,  which,  like  a  divine  Eye, 
gazed  daily  upon  the  entire  world  around  which 
it  circled  :  in  the  still  stars,  which,  like  sentinels 
com  missioned  by  the  great  King,  stand  on  all 
the  outposts  of  his  dominions  and  keep  silent 
ward  and  watch  overall  His  creatures:  in  the 
solemn  mountains,  on  whose  turreted  pinnacles 
are  pitched  His  pavilions,  now  bathed  in  the 
glory  of  sunlight,  and  then  veiled  in  the  mists 
of  massive  clouds:  in  the  dark  woods,  whose 
awful  recesses  and  unexplored  caverns  conceal 
the  court  of  the  avenging  monarch  :  in  the  view- 
less tempest  and  the  wild  storm  whose  shriek 
pierces  their  dwellings  at  midnight  and  whose 
path  over  the  land  and  upon  the  sea  is  marked 
by  uptorn  forests  and  shattered  tenements  and 
dismantled  wrecks:  in  the  cataract  whose  mist 
rises  like  the  smoke  of  sacrifice  to  His  throne 
and  whose  voice  is  like  a  ceaseless  anthem  up- 
borne to  His  praise  :  in  the  broad,  deep  streanii 
whose  waters  fertilize  vast  territories:  in  the 
solemn  sea,  whose  floods  ebb  and  flow  as 
though  by  their  own  will  they  daily  and  nightly 
visited  the  shores  of  many  lands,  now  gently 
advancing  and  retreating  along  their  sandy 
bounds  and  then  madly  dashing  against  their 
I'ocky  coasts. 

A  God,  of  some   kind,  men    will   have.     They 
know  that  they  arc  wxak  :  that  somewhere   there 


CHKIST  THE  REVEALER  OF  GOD.        235 

must  be  power.  At  times  the}'  feel  a  reaching 
out  for  better  sympathies,  for  holier  love,  than 
they  can  find  in  beings  like  tiiemselves.  Yet 
meagre  and  unsatisfying  are  their  best  unassisted 
conceptions  of  the  Divine  Being.  God  is  remote. 
Eye  hath  not  seen  Him.  Ear  hath  not  heard  His 
voice.  Heart  hath  not  felt  the  throbbings  of 
His  heart.  Man  feels  like  an  orphan.  He  feels 
like  a  stranger  in  his  father's  home.  He  feels 
that  the  God  has  no  S3Mnpathies  with  him.  He 
cannot  apprehend  the  Great  Spirit,  the  awe  of 
whose  presence  falls  like  a  heav)',  dark  shadow 
upon  him.  He  feels  after  God,  if  haply  he  may 
find  Him.  He  looks  into  the  depth :  but  the 
depth  says,  "  He  is  not  in  me."  He  looks  to  the 
height:  but  the  height  says,  "  He  is  not  here." 
He  takes  the  wings  of  the  morning  and  flies  to 
the  utmost  bounds  of  the  earth:  but  there  he 
finds  Him  not  for  whom  his  soul  languishes.  He 
searches  the  darkness  and  the  light:  but  they  both 
declare  that  He  is  not  in  them.  He  questions  the 
[)lanets  as  they  roll :  but  from  their  cold  spheres 
they  answer  nothing.  He  calls  to  the  universe 
peopled  everywhere  by  His  power:  but  all 
peoples  and  worlds  say,  "  We  know  Him  not." 
Still  the  baffled  inquirer  knows  that  God  is,  and 
that  He  is  everywhere.  Perplexed,  saddened, 
the  solitary  orphan  sobs  lor  his  Father.  His 
human  heart  yearns  for  divine,  paternal  sym- 
pathies. His  voice  moans  in  anxious  inquiry: 
"Tell  me,  O  thou  whom  my  soul  loveth,  where  I 


236  THE    MODEL    LIFE. 

can  find  Thee.  Draw  me,  and  1  will  run  after 
Thee.  Oh  that  Thou  wert  as  my  brother!" 
To  man  thus  dejected  and  forsaken,  comes  one 
fairer  than  the  sons  of  men,  representinjr  Him- 
self as  their  elder  brother,  yet  claiming  equality 
with  God,  and  says,  "  Behold  Him  for  whom  you 
long,  for  whom,  elsewhere,  you  seek  in  vain." 
It  is  Jesus.  And  He  says  unto  us,  "  I  am  the 
way  and  the  truth  and  the  life  :  no  man  cometh 
unto  the  Father  but  by  Me.  If  3'e  had  known 
Me,  ye  should  have  known  My  Father  also  :  and 
from  henceforth  ye  know  Him  and  have  seen 
Him."  And  when,  like  Philip,  we  say,  "  Lord, 
show  us  the  Father,  and  it  sufficeth  us,"  we  may, 
each  one  of  us,  hear  Jesus  saying  unto  us,  "  Have 
I  been  so  long  time  with  you,  and  yet  hast  thou 
not  known  me,  Philip?  He  that  hath  seen  me 
hath  seen  the  Father  :  and  how  sayest  thou  then 
'  show  us  the  Father  ?'  Believe  me,  that  I  am 
in  the  Father,  and  the  Father  in  me  ;  or  else  if  my 
zvord  is  not  enough,  believe  me  for  the  sake  of 
the  works  which  I  do  and  which  none  but  God 
can  do." 

In  Christ  man's  greatest  want  is  fully  met.  In 
Him  he  finds  his  God.  Let  us  think  of  Christ,  as 
revealing  God. 

The  Scriptural  doctrine  is  that  His  advent  was 
the  manifestation  of  God.  Says  the  beloved  dis- 
ciple, •*  For  the  Life  was  manifested,  ant]  we 
have  seen  it,  and  bear  witness,  and  show  unto 
you  that  Eternal  Life  which  was  with  the  Father, 


Christ  the  revealer  oe  god.  237 

and  was  manifested  unto  us."  The  whole  force 
of  the  Scripture  representation  is  to  this  effect, 
that  Jesus  Christ  proceeded  frcjm  God  and  was 
God  and  revealed  by  His  life  the  heart  of  God 
to  the  race.  Exclude  these  ideas  from  its  teach- 
ings, and  the  Bible  becomes  mere  rhapsody  and 
its  meaning  is  emptied  out.  The  Son  of  Man, 
who  is  also  the  Son  of  God,  was  not  wholly  of 
human,  nor  wholly  of  divine,  origin.  As  it  is 
stated  in  the  Apostles'  Creed,  he"  was  conceived 
by  the  Holy  Ghost  and  born  of  the  Virgin 
Mary."  That  divinity  might  become  incarnate 
He  subjected  himself  to  the  necessities  of  our 
estate,  and  that  He  might  be  the  more  closely 
related  to  us  and  might  reveal  Himself  more 
fully  to  us,  He  separated  not  Himself  from  the 
entire  experiences  of  our  humanit}'.  That  we 
might  comprehend  Him,  He  appeared  in  the 
likeness  of  men,  felt  the  burdens  of  our  nature, 
shared  in  the  infirmities  as  in  the  joys  of  our  lot. 
''The  Word  was  made  flesh."  "I  came  forth 
from  the  Father  and  am  come  into  the  world." 
"  He  that  was  in  the  form  of  God,  and  was  made 
in  fashion  as  a  UT^n."  "  In  whom  dwelt  all  the 
fullness  of  the  Godhead  bodily,"  "The  Father 
is  in  me  and  I  in  Him,"  "  Who  is  the  image  of 
the  invisible  God."  "  1  and  my  Father  are  one." 
"O  Father,  glorify  thou  me  with  thine  own  self, 
with  the  glory  which  I  had  with  thee  before  the 
world  was."  Such  passages  as  these,  numerous 
and  striking,  force  us  to  the  conclusion  that  this 


238  Till';    MoDKI,    I.I  PR. 

extraordinary  person,  this  Jesns,  with  his  won- 
derfnl  j^ifts  and  claims,  with  His  remarkable  life 
and  death,  was  indeed  divine.  As  we  meditate 
upon  them  all,  we  exclaim  with  the  Roman  cen- 
tnrion  at  the  cross,  "  Truly  this  was  the  Son  of 
God  !"  With  Thomas,  we  cry,  "  My  Lord  and 
my  God  I"  With  the  disciples  (j^aziiii^  after  their 
ascending  Lord,  we  worship  Ilini.  Witii  "  every 
creature  which  is  in  heaven,  and  cjii  the  earth, 
and  under  the  earth,  and  snch  as  are  in  the  sea, 
and  ail  that  are  in  them,"  we  say,  "  Blessing  and 
honor,  and  glory,  and  power,  be  unto  Him  that 
sitteth  upon  the  throne,  and  unto  the  Lamb,  for 
ever  and  ever." 

Christ's  advent  was  the  manifestation  of  God 
to  men.  That  great  fact  is  the  most  luminous 
truth  of  Scripture.  It  is  the  sun  of  revelation, 
the  center,  the  light,  and  the  life  of  all  the  other 
truths  which  circle  around  this. 

The  motive  for  this  revelation  was  sufficient 
to  secure  it.  It  might  be  thought  a  strange  thing 
and  improbable,  not  to  say  absurd  and  impossible, 
that  God  should  thus  reveal  Himself  to  creatures. 
But  we  have  seen  what  men  are,  to  what  con- 
clusions they  come,  when  unassisted.  The  great 
majority  are  pagans;  the  minority  struggle  after 
unattainable  truth.  But  God  wishes  to  be 
known.  All  His  works  are  proofs  that  He  does 
not  seek  to  conceal  Himself.  The  things  that 
are  made  declare  their  Maker.  The  visible 
creation  reveals  the  invisible  Creator.     Ourselves 


CHRIST  THE  REVEALER  OF  GOD.        239 

announce  God  to  us.  But  who  is  the  God  ?  asks 
the  wondering  student  of  his  works.  Where  is 
He,  that  I  may  behold  Him  ?  What  is  He,  that 
I  may  comprehend  Him  and  worship  Him  ? 
These  results  that  we  see  around  us  allow  us  to 
place  no  limit  to  His  attributes.  That  Power 
which  could  create  the  worlds,  whose  number  no 
finite  mind  can  compute,  is  such  that  we  stand 
abashed  before  it,  and  because  we  can  say  nothing 
else  which  expresses  the  idea  any  better,  we  call 
it  infinite ;  the  infinite  being  as  incomprehensible 
by  us  as  the  God.  And  then  the  providence  of 
God,  how  vast  it  is  !  Who  by  searching  can 
find  it  out?  It  reaches  to  the  tiniest  flower  on 
whose  fair  bosom  sparkles  the  dewy  gem  ;  to 
the  star  whose  light  reaches  us  only  after  a 
journey  of  a  thousand  years  ;  to  the  little  birds 
that  sing  in  many  a  shady  covert,  the  sparrows 
that  fall  not  unobserved  by  the  eye  of  God  ;  to 
the  cattle  on  a  thousand  hills;  to  the  pearls  that 
lie  in  the  unfathomed  abysses  of  the  sea;  to  the 
painted  leaves  of  the  forest  with  which  Autumn 
adorns  the  departing  year  ;  to  every  wind  that 
blows  and  every  shower  that  falls;  to  the  ripen- 
ing corn  and  all  the  fruits  of  the  harvest  time  ;  to 
the  dweller  on  the  mountain  side  ;  to  the  dweller 
in  the  thronged  city,  to  those  who  go  down  to 
the  sea  in  ships,  to  the  kings  on  their  thrones, 
and  to  lonely,  watching  ones  in  their  exile. 

And    this    all-reaching,    all-governing    provi- 
dence, we  also  call  infinite.     And  so  as  we  in- 


240  THE   MODEL    LIFE. 

vestigate  the  divine  attributes,  all,  all  is  infinite. 
We  arc  lost  in  the  boundless,  incomprehensible 
existence  which  we  call  God.  We  can  only  bow 
down  and  adore,  in  awe,  afar.  There  are  no 
sympathies  as  yet  between  us.  We  cannot  fall 
on  the  bosom  of  our  Father :  we  cannot  come  to 
Him  as  dear  children  :  He  is  to  us  the  dreadful 
God,  the  almighty  and  everlasting  Jehovah. 
Now,  here  it  is  that  the  revelation  of  God  in 
Christ  becomes  significant  to  us.  In  order  that 
God  may  reveal  himself  to  us,  in  order  that  we 
may  know  Him,  in  order  that  His  attributes  may 
come  within  the  range  of  our  perception  and 
sympathy,  in  order  that  this  distance  between  us 
and  God  may  be  bridged  over,  He  becomes 
Immanuel,  God  with  us,  God  manifest  in  the 
flesh,  the  fullness  of  God  revealed  bodily.  In 
no  other  way  can  the  result  be  reached  so  well, 
so  directly,  as  by  the  incarnation  of  the  Son. 
And  the  same  motive  which  would  lead  God  to 
express  Himself  at  all,  which  would  lead  Him  to 
the  work  of  creation,  would  also  lead  Him  to 
appear  in  the  likeness  of  men.  Man  is  God's 
chiefest  work  out  of  heaven.  The  life  of  God 
brought  into  the  history  of  the  life  of  the  race 
would  be  no  disparagement  of  His  glory,  while 
it  would  most  intimately  and  impressively  and 
tenderly  reveal  Him  to  us.  W-^  cannot  come 
directly  to  Jehovah.  The  finite  cannot  stand 
before  the  infinite.  We  must  have  some  me- 
dium   through  which  we  can  approach  the  God- 


CHRIST  THE  KEVEALER  OF  GOD.        241 

head.  His  throne  is  too  awful  for  us.  The 
light  in  which  He  dwells  is  too  dazzling  for  our 
weak  vision.  Christ  therefore  is  what  we  want. 
Christ  the  way,  the  truth,  the  life,  meets  human 
need.  We  can  come  unto  the  Father  by  Him. 
To  secure  such  perfect  adaptation  to  a  glorious 
end,  the  very  end  of  God  in  all  His  works,  is 
surely  not  beneath  the  benevolent  God.  If  He 
would  have  us  know  Him  and,  because  we  know 
Him,  love  Him,  He  will  reveal  Himself  lovingly 
to  us,  and  that  He  has  done  in  Christ.  '*  He 
that  hath  seen  me,  hath  seen  the  Father." 

The  most  important  perfections  of  God  can  be 
communicated  to  us  through  Christ.  There  is 
much  of  mystery  about  the  Incarnation.  It  is  a 
great,  solitary,  wonderful  fact  in  the  world's 
otherwise  trivial  history.  But  if  we  take  it  in 
its  most  obvious  significance,  in  the  simplest  but 
greatest  meaning  which  it  was  designed  to 
embody  and  manifest,  God  in  man,  doing  and 
dying  for  the  sins  of  the  world,  then  it  becomes 
a  full  and  apparent  and  perfect  and  glorious 
revelation  of  Deity.  What  we  want  most  of  all 
to  know  is  that  God  loves  us,  that  He  sympa- 
thizes with  us,  that  He  can  be  reconciled  to  us, 
that  there  can  be  union  between  us  and  Him. 
If  we  know  these  things,  if  they  can  be  brought 
home  to  us  as  evident  and  felt  realities,  then  the 
greatest  result  is  gained.  God  in  Christ 
secures  this.  If  we  accept  this  one  fact,  all  the 
rest  becomes   plain,   necessary   truth.     If   God 


242  THE  Model  Mf-fi. 

was  in  Christ,  if  Jesus  was  the  Son  of  God, 
then  how  closely  to  us  is  brought  the  infinite 
heart  of  God,  then  how  real  appears  His  love  to 
us,  then  how  are  we  drawn  to  Him  in  confidence, 
in  filial  affection,  in  holy  intimacy  ! 

"  No  man  hath  seen  God  at  any  time  :"  but 
we  have  seen  "the  only  begotten  Son,  who  hath 
declared  Him,"  "  who  is  the  image  of  the 
invisible  God."  We  look  in  wonder  and  in  love 
at  His  life.  It  is  all  pure,  hol3%  blessed.  It  is 
full  of  the  largest  sympathies,  the  tenderest  love, 
the  divinest  compassions.  It  goes  to  the 
lowliest,  the  most  miserable,  the  guiltiest,  the 
most  abandoned,  with  its  radiance,  its  charity, 
its  cheer,  its  benediction,  its  warm  regard.  It 
arrests  thoughtful  and  wise  men,  like  the  young 
lawyer  and  the  learned  Nicodemus,  with  its 
loftiness  and  its  disinterestedness.  It  touches 
the  heart  of  sympathizing,  charitable,  affection- 
ate woman  :  and  she  loves  and  trusts  and  clings 
to  Him  through  all  adverse  scenes  and  fierce 
persecutions,  not  ashamed  to  wash  His  feet  with 
tears  and  wipe  them  with  the  hair  of  her  head, 
not  reluctant  to  open  her  house  to  Him  against 
whom  the  doors  of  Pharisee  and  scribe  were 
shut,  anointing  His  head  with  costliest  ointment, 
weeping  at  His  cross  which  she  is  the  last  to 
leave,  and  watching  at  His  sepulchre  which  she 
is  the  first  to  reach.  It  beams  on  the  trusting 
heart  of  childhood,  when  His  words,  "  Suffer  the 
little  children  to  come  unto  me,"  fall  like  sweetest 


CHRIST   THE    REVEALER    OF   GOD.  243 

music  on  their  ears,  and  they  look  up  to  His  face 
with  smiles  and  nestle  in  His  bosom  as  lambs  in 
the  bosom  of  the  kind  shepherd  when  he  gently 
carries  them  in  his  arms. 

It  rises  before  the  poor,  the  unfortunate,  the 
friendless,  the  sad,  the  heavy-laden,  with  a  quiet, 
attractive  loveliness  and  assures  them  of  aid  and 
comfort  and  rest.  It  rebukes  the  cunning  crafti- 
ness, and  meanness,  and  oppression  of  wicked 
men  by  its  nobleness  and  sternness,  and  purity, 
and  awful  goodness.  It  is  a  life  ever  serene,  ma- 
jestic, simple,  reverent,  loving,  Godlike.  And 
through  it  all  and  in  its  crowning  woik,  His  mys- 
terious death,  God  reveals  Himself  to  us,  as 
God  was  never  conceived  of  before,  oculd  never 
have  been  conceived  of.  Here  is  love,  rich,  over- 
flowing, unequaled.  Here  is  compassion,  mercy, 
placableness,  tenderest  union  to  us,  benevolent 
sympathy  for  us,  all  indeed  that  we  need  to  know 
of  God,  to  lead  us  to  trust  Him,  and  to  love 
Him.  When  we  look  upon  God  in  Christ,  He  is 
no  longer  the  stern,  remote,  ncomprehensible, 
awful  Monarch  :  He  is  our  kind,  most  loving 
Father.  "  He  that  hath  seen  me  hath  seen  the 
Father."  And  such  a  Father  !  And  this  is  God, 
doing  all  that  Christ  did,  feeling  for  us  all  that 
Christ  felt,  suffering  for  us  all  that  Christ  suf- 
fered, dying  for  us  as  Christ  died.  Need  we 
anything  more?  Is  not  this  a  most  precious 
revelation  ?  Let  us  then  not  stay  away  from 
this  God  of  ours.     Let  us  not  doubt  and   won- 


244  THE   MODEL   LIFE. 

der  and  despise,  until  we  j^erish,  as  though 
the  great  Gotl  could  not  condescend  to  all 
this.  Let  us  receive  and  welcome  the  rev- 
elation and  say  of  one  who  manifests  such  quali- 
ties of  goodness,  such  attributes  of  greatness, 
every  thing  indeed  to  win  us  :  This  God  shall 
be  my  God. 

This  revealing  of  God  through  Christ  is  suited 
to  our  nature.  Responsive  chords  were  struck 
whatever  Christ  did  in  the  sight  of  men.  Their 
heart-strings  thrilled  at  His  every  tone.  Many 
indeed  stood  aloof  and  mocked  the  carpenter's 
son.  Jews  in  their  bigotry,  Greeks  in  their 
wisdom,  despised  Him.  Pharisee,  Sadducee, 
scribe,  priests,  doctors  of  the  law;  what  was 
the  Nazarene  to  them  ?  But  ah  !  there  is  a  world 
of  meaning  in  that  one  recorded  fact:  "The 
common  people  heard  Him  gladly."  He  taught 
them  "  not  as  the  scribes."  Rough  soldiers, 
men  hardened  in  war,  sent  by  those  in  authority 
to  take  Him,  dared  not  touch  Him,  though  He 
stood  alone,  unarmed,  so  awed  \vere  they  by 
His  words,  so  unconsciously  did  He  draw  them 
to  Himself  by  His  wonderful  power,  and  their 
only  excuse  was,  "  Never  man  spake  like  this 
man." 

Wherever  He  went,  along  the  Sea  of  Galilee, 
into  the  solitary  wilderness,  into  the  village  or 
the  thronged  city,  the  multitudes  were  around 
Him.  He  was  a  joy  to  many  an  aged  Anna  and 
many   a   waiting   Simeon.      Many   a    Mary   sat 


CHRIST   THE    REVEALER   OF    GOD.  245 

gladly  at  His  feet  and  heard  His  words.  Rude 
fishermen  were  beguiled  by  Him  away  from 
their  nets  and  boats.  Tlie  publican  lelt  his  taxes 
to  be  gathered  by  others.  Gentle  and  pure- 
hearted  women,  those  who  ministered  to  Him, 
and  wept  for  His  loss,  loved  him  through  all  to 
the  fatal  end. 

Now  this  wide,  deep  love,  this  unconquerable 
attachment,  shown  to  Christ  while  He  was 
alive;  yes,  shown  still  stronger  by  those  who 
since  His  ascension  have  loved  Him  whom  they 
have  not  seen,  loved  Him  so  well  that  many 
floods  could  not  drown  their  affection,  nor 
many  fires  consume  it :  that  rack,  sword,  cruel 
death,  no  device  of  man,  no  temptation  of  Satan, 
could  make  them  swerve  from  it,  proves  that  this 
revelation  of  God,  of  His  heart,  of  His  perfec- 
tions, is  just  what  is  suited  to  our  nature.  The 
best  way  in  which  God  can  reach  man  is  through 
Christ.  God,  as  revealed  in  the  person  of  His 
Son  in  the  flesh,  has  power  over  human  hearts 
beyond  any  other  power  which  could  have  been 
brought  to  bear  upon  them.  In  this  divine  Per- 
son, who  wept  like  an  orphan  over  Jerusalem, 
who  prayed  as  a  child  for  an  erring  parent  for 
th.)se  who  crucified  Him,  who,  though  He  had 
not  where  to  lay  His  head,  toiled  on  for  those 
who  would  not  receive  Him,  who  bore  reproach, 
persecution,  desertion  of  friends,  who  at  last 
died  for  those  who  nailed  Him  to  the  cross,  is 
the  Friend,  the  Brother,  the  God,  for  whom  the 


246  THE    MODEL    LIFE. 

human  heart,  convinced  of  its  need  and  roused 
to  its  guilt  and  its  danger,  everywhere  longs. 
O  this  slglit  of  God  as  He  is  in  Christ,  this  see- 
ing the  Father  in  the  Son,  this  baring  of  the 
divine  heart  before  us,  is  the  greatest,  dearest, 
divinest  truth  on  earth! 


XX. 

CHRIST    THE   people's   PREACHER. 

N  one  day  our  Lord's  audience  was  made 
up  of  publicans  and  sinners.  They 
wished  to  hear  Him  once ;  and  they 
streamed  together  to  the  place  where  He  stood 
and  quite  surrounded  Him.  It  was  a  picture 
for  a  painter.  He  so  calm  and  grand,  with  a 
look  of  nobleness,  and  of  tenderness  mingled 
on  His  fine  face  lighted  ever  with  a  radiance 
from  His  own  heaven,  sympathy  in  every 
expression  of  His  features,  and  every  movement 
of  His  person,  and  every  tone  of  His  rich 
voice,  the  central  figure  on  the  open  market- 
place :  they  rough  and  harsh,  from  their  hateful 
tasks  or  their  low  living,  with  the  grime  of  the 
world  on  them  ;  old  Roman  tax-gatherers,  hard 
with  the  hand  of  oppression,  and  the  exacting 
clutch  on  the  poor  and  perverse ;  old  Jewish  trans- 
gressors, bred  in  sin,  adepts  in  wrong  and  lust 
and  hate,  glaring  on  Him  with  eyes  blood-shot 
and  faces  foul  from  the  slums,  men  who  never 
before  met  in  peace,  surrounding  with  wonder 
and  inquiry  and  hushed  stillness  this  Man  of  men, 
the  great  Healer  and  Teacher  of  the  time  ! 

[247] 


248  THE    MODEL    LIFE. 

They  came  near  unto  Him  :  the  hanas  of  some 
of  them  mi^ht  have  reached  His  hand  :  they 
could  look  into  His  placid  eyes  :  every  word 
could  be  heard  by  them  :  the  shadow  of  His 
person  would  fall  on  them  as  the  sun  declined. 

They  came  to  hear  Him  :  feeling  that  He  had 
something  to  sa}^  to  them  :  knowing  that  they 
needed  to  hear  what  one  like  Him  should  speak. 
There  they  arc.  One  can  see  the  group  in  that 
Jewish  town. 

What  will  the  Saviour  say  to  tiiem  ? 

It  is  a  matter  of  thrilling  interest  to  know. 
We  can  imagine  what  He  might  have  spoken 
of:  He  who  knew  all  things:  tie  whose  home 
and  throne  were  ever  of  old  in  heaven:  He  who 
knew  all  that  was  in  man  and  whose  eye  ran 
along  every  path  on  which  the  guilty  feet  of 
the  men  before  Him  had  ever  been.  What  will 
He  say  to  them  ? 

It  is  a  matter  that  concerns  us.  For  what  He 
said  to  them  is  what  He  would  speak,  what  He 
does  speak  to  us.  If  we  are  not  publicans  we 
are  sinmrs,  and  we  need  the  very  words  which 
they  would  need  :  with  them  we  should  come 
near  to  Him  to  hear  His  word. 

Outside  was  a  group  of  scowling  scribes  and 
Pharisees,  big  in  the  conceit  of  their  piety, 
whose  envious  and  hateful  murmur  could  be 
heard  :  '*  This  man  receiveth  sinners,  and  eatcth 
with  them."  The  Lord  heard  :  the  publicans 
and  sinners  heard.     And  He  spake  :  so  artlessly 


CHRIST    THE    PKOPLe's    PREACHER.  249 

is  it  told  of  Him  :  taking  no  notice  of  those 
proud  Pharisees  in  the  outer  rim  of  His  audi- 
ence :  looking-  only  into  the  eyes,  looking  deeper 
only  into  the  hearts,  of  these  who  were  nearest 
and  who  wanted  just  the  right  word,  who  were 
waiting  for  it  and  who  perhaps  would  be  saved 
by  it:  He  spake  this  parable  unto  them.  What 
man  of  you.  He  said,  stretching  forth  His  hand 
to  them,  speaking  so  personally  that  every  onf 
of  them  felt  that  He  was  addressing  him,  hav- 
ing a  hundred  sheep,  if  he  lose  one  of  them,  doth 
not  leave  the  ninety  and  nine  in  the  wilderness, 
and  go  after  that  which  is  lost,  until  he  find  it? 
And  when  he  hath  found  it,  he  layeth  it  on  his 
shoulders,  rejoicing.  And  when  he  cometh  home 
he  calleth  together  his  friends  and  neighbors, 
saying  unto  them.  Rejoice  with  me:  for  I  have 
found  my  sheep  which  was  lost.  I  say  unto  you, 
that  likewise  joy  shall  be  in  heaven  over  one 
sinner  that  repenteth  more  than  over  ninety  and 
nine  just  persons  that  need  no  repentance.  That 
was  Christ's  first  word  to  those  hard  but  listen- 
ing men.  They  knew  that  they  were  sinners  : 
that  they  were  lost :  and  He  wanted  them  to 
know  that  they  were  thought  of  and  loved  and 
sought  for:  that  there  was  a  Good  Shepherd 
who  was  seeking  them  to  save  them. 

What  man  of  you  ;  any  one  of  you  having  a 
flock  of  one  hundred  sheep,  if  one  were  lost, 
would  leave  the  ninety-nine  in  the  accustomed 


250  THE    MODEL   LIFE. 

pasture-ground,  and  would  go  after  the  lost  one 
until  you  have  lound  it. 

There  is  a  great  meaning  in  the  little  word 
which  is  rendered  "  after;"  it  implies  that  he  goes 
with  the  intention  and  strong  purpose  to  find 
that  strayed  one  and  to  bring  it  back.  His 
whole  heart  is  in  the  undertaking  and  he  will 
not  be  balked  in  it.  He  will  climb  the  mountain 
sides :  he  will  ford  the  mountain  streams ;  he 
will  breast  the  mountain  winds  and  through 
flood  and  tempest  and  wilderness  will  persevere 
until  somewhere  he  will  find  the  lost.  And  then 
he  will  not  drive  it  before  him  and  whip  it  back 
to  the  flock,  nor  even  commit  it  to  a  hireling, 
but  will  lift  it  to  his  own  shoulders  and  bear  it 
over  the  rough  way,  rejoicing  that  he  has  not 
searched  in  vain  ;  that  the  wild  stream  did  not 
sweep  it  off"  on  its  torrent ;  that  the  wild  beast 
did  not  seize  it  as  his  prey  ;  that  the  wild  storm 
did  not  pelt  it  to  death.  So  glad  is  he,  that,  on 
reaching  home,  he  calls  his  friends  and  his 
neighbors  together  and  bids  them  rejoice  with 
him  that  he  has  found  the  sheep  that  was  lost. 

The  publicans  and  sinners  could  all  appreciate 
the  parable.  Then  the  Saviour  applies  it  to 
them :  telling  them  that  there  is  more  joy  in 
heaven  over  one  sinner  that  repenteth  than  over 
ninety-nine  righteous  persons  who  have  no  need 
of  repentance.  The}'  knew,  those  rough  men 
knew,  what  he  meant.  They  knew  that  even 
then    the    Good    Shepherd    stood    before    them, 


CHRIST    THE    PEOPLe's    PREACHER.  251 

that  he  was  even  then  seeking  them  to  save 
them. 

Tlicy  were  as  the  lost  sheep  ;  He  the  Shepherd 
seeking  to  save.  It  was  not  a  story  merely  that 
they  were  hearing  :  it  was  a  statement  of  them- 
selves. They  could  anticipate,  as  they  stood 
there  in  the  market-place  of  that  old  Galilean 
town,  those  wonderful  pictures  of  the  early 
Christian  art  in  which  the  Saviour  is  depicted 
as  the  Shepherd  bearing  home  on  His  shoulders 
the  lost  but  found  sheep.  His  tender  words 
were  words  for  them.  The  Hebrew  scriptures 
were  full  of  the  figure  of  the  strayed  sheep  and 
of  the  Lord  as  the  Shepherd  of  the  people.  And 
now  in  fuller  meaning  than  that  of  the  old  scrip- 
tures. He  who  was  always  the  Shepherd  of  the 
flock  set  before  these  listening  sinners  His  own 
undaunted  activity  and  loving  solicitude  and 
heavenly  joy  in  their  recovery.  What  other 
message  could  have  been  so  timely  and  so  true  ? 
What  else  could  He  have  spoken  so  fitted  to 
touch  and  subdue  those  hard  natures  which 
would  yet  respond  to  sympathy  and  love  ? 

Among  them  perhaps  were  some  women, 
mothers,  wives,  sisters  of  the  men  grouped 
around  Him.  He,  who  saw  into  their  hearts, 
who  perhaps  knew  that  some  of  them  longed  for 
peace  and  forgiveness,  quickly  spoke  a  word  for 
them. 

Either  what  woman  having  ten  pieces  of  silver, 
if  she   lose   one   piece,   doth   not   light  a  candle, 


252  THK    MODKI,    LIFE. 

and  sweep  the  house,  and  seek  diligently  till  she 
fmd  it?  And  wlien  she  hath  found  it  she  calleth 
her  female  friends  and  neighbors  together,  say- 
ing. Rejoice  with  me,  for  I  have  found  the  piece 
which  I  had  lost.  Likewise,  I  say  unto  you, 
there  is  joy  in  the  presence  of  the  angels  of  God 
over  the  sinner  that  repcnteth.  It  was  a  small 
thing,  one  piece  of  silver,  ten  of  which  were  not 
worth  two  dollars,  but  it  was  one-tenth  of  all  that 
she  had.  They  could  understand,  those  Galilean 
women,  the  story  of  the  quickly  lighted  candle, 
the  broom  flying  across  the  floor,  the  diligent 
and  unceasing  search  into  every  corner  and 
cranny,  until  the  white  coin  was  seen  and  recov- 
ered. Every  piece  of  that  coin  bore  the  image 
of  the  Emperor:  and  that  image  was  n(jt  effaced 
though  it  were  covered  with  dust  and  the  sweep- 
ings of  the  floor.  They  knew  that  they,  lost 
women,  sinners,  bore  the  divine  image  and  that 
however  depraved  they  might  have  become  in 
association  with  men  of  sin  and  perversity,  )ct 
they  were  thought  of  and  valued  and  sought  for  ; 
and  they  could  not  help  feeling  in  that  great 
presence  that  the  very  Saviour  whom  they 
needed  stood  before  them,  within  reach  of  their 
soiled  hands  and  sordid  souls. 

Those  were  blessed  words  of  hope,  taken  from 
the  experience  of  their  household  life,  assuring 
them  that  Ihe  anxiety  pictured  in  the  lighted 
candle  and  the  sweeping  broom  and  the  success- 
ful search,  was  that  which  He  felt  for  them,  that 


CHRIST  THE  PEOPLE's  PREACHER.       253 

out  of  all  their  sins,  their  lost  condition,  they 
might  be  rescued,  and  that  He  had  come  for 
that. 

And  I  think  that  many  a  poor  desolate  woman's 
soul  in  that  strange  group  around  the  Master 
beat  with  a  new  hope  as  she  felt  sorrow  for  her 
sad  sin  and  looked  into  those  eyes  of  heavenly 
pity.  That  was  Christ's  second  word  to  the 
gathered  sinners.  And  then  He  impressed  upon 
them,  out  of  what  they  knew  of  the  joy  of  find- 
ing a  lost  treasure  or  a  prized  coin,  their  own 
relation  to  those  who  would  like  to  rejoice  in 
their  salvation.  Likewise,  there  is  joy  in  the 
presence  of  the  angels  of  God  over  one  sinner 
that  repenteth.  Let  one  of  you  now  repent  and 
begin  a  new  life  and  you  shall  waken  a  joy 
throughout  heaven:  God  will  rejoice  and  angels 
will  rejoice  over  a  soul  lost  and  found.  There 
is  jo}' :  now,  immediately  on  the  conversion  :  and 
it  is  just  as  natural  as  when  a  glad  woman  re- 
joices for  the  piece  of  silver  that  is  found,  or  as 
when  a  shepherd  exults  that  his  wandering  sheep 
has  been  rescued  from  the  perils  of  the  moun- 
tains. 

But  this  is  not  all ;  the  Saviour  has  still  another 
message  for  them  ;  perhaps  He  sees  that  their 
hearts  are  made  tender  by  His  kind,  loving 
speech.  They  did  not  expect  such  words  from 
Him  ;  He  so  pure  and  good  ;  they  so  mean  and 
sinful.  Unexpected  words  of  kindness  break 
down,  proudest,  hardest  natures.     It  is  told  of  our 


254  THE   MODEL    LIFEl. 

bold  Gen.  Hooker,  who  lately  died,  that,  during 
the  war,  in  the  severe  winter,  he  visited  our 
military  prison  at  Rock  Island  where  three 
thousand  rebel  prisoners  were  confined.  They 
were  all  drawn  up  in  line  for  his  inspection,  and 
he  scanned  every  man  from  head  to  heel,  as  he 
passed  before  them.  At  the  end  of  the  line  the 
General  halted  and  half  wheeled  his  proud  horse 
and  lifted  his  plumed  hat  with  knig-htl}-  grace  to 
those  rebels  as  though  they  had  been  princes, 
and  with  gentle  look  and  voice  said  :  "  Vouno: 
gentlemen.  [  am  sorry,  very  sorry  for  you,  and 
hope  soon  our  differences  will  be  settled  so  that 
you  all  can  return  safely  home  again."  It  was 
so  unexpected  and  so  different  from  what  they 
had  been  accustomed  to  hear  that  it  thrilled 
them  like  a  current  of  electricity  and  instantly 
from  those  "  ragged  rebs.''  three  thousand 
throats  gave  a  ringing  cheer  for  fighting  Joe 
Hooker. 

Christ  then  told  them  that  tenderest,  sweetest 
of  all  His  parables  ;  the  story  of  the  prodigal  son. 
A  certain  man  had  two  sons.  The  A^ounger  of 
them,  fretting  to  be  free,  asked  for  his  portion 
of  his  father's  estate,  and,  gathering  it  all  togeth- 
er, went  out  into  a  far  country  and  spent  it  all  in 
riotous  living.  A  mighty  famine  came  on  there 
and  he  began  to  be  in  want.  Me  joined  himself 
to  a  citizen  who  sent  him  into  his  fields  to  feed 
swine.  He  would  fain  have  filled  his  bell}'  with 
the  pods  that  the  swine  did  eat ;  but  no  man  gave 


255 

even  those  unto  him.  In  that  degradation,  sin 
and  want,  the  spendthrift  came  to  himself.  He 
said,  How  many  of  the  lowest  servants,  the  day- 
laborers,  of  my  father,  have  bread  enough  and  to 
spare  and  I,  his  son,  am  perishing  here  with  hun- 
ger. I  will  arise  and  go  to  my  father  and  will 
say  unto  him,  Father,  I  have  sinned  against 
heaven  and  before  thee  and  am  no  more  worthy 
to  be  called  thy  son,  make  me  as  one  of  thy  day- 
laborers.  He  did  not  even  ask  for  a  Jiome  in  the 
house,  not  to  be  a  house  servant,  but  a  common 
day-laborer.  And  he  arose,  and  came  to  his 
father.  But  when  he  was  yet  a  great  wa}^  off, 
his  father  saw  him,  and  had  compassion,  and  ran, 
and  fell  on  his  neck,  and  kissed  him.  And  the 
son  said,  Father,  I  have  sinned  against  heaven 
and  in  thy  sight,  and  am  no  more  worthy  to  be 
called  thy  son.  But  the  father  said  to  the  ser- 
vants, Bring  forth  the  best  robe  and  put  it  on 
him  ;  and  put  a  ring  on  his  hand,  and  shoes  on 
his  feet;  and  bring  forth  the  fatted  calf  and  kill 
it,  for  there  can  be  no  other  such  occasion  of 
joy  ;  and  let  us  eat  and  be  merr}^  ;  for  this  my 
son  was  dead,  and  is  alive  again  ;  he  was  lost 
and  is  found.  And  they  began  to  be  merry.  And 
to  the  elder  son  complaining  of  this  treatment 
of  one  who  had  devoured  his  estate  with  harlots, 
the  father  said.  It  was  meet  that  we  should 
make  merry  and  be  glad  ;  for  this  thy  brother 
was  dead,  and  is  alive  again;  and  was  lost,  and 
is  found. 


256  THE   MODKL    LIFE. 

O  how  much  there  was  here  for  those  publicans 
and  sinners  who  stood  around  Him  !  They  were 
like  the  prodigal.  They  knew  it,  knew  it  well.  He 
had  drawn  their  picture.  He  had  photographed 
themselves.  They  had  left  their  father  :  had 
spent  all:  were  in  want.  Every  rough  face 
turned  toward  Him  there  was  the  face  of  a 
prodigal.  The  blood-tints  that  stained  every  eye 
told  of  sin.  The  leer  that  lurked  under  the  brow 
of  one,  the  defiance  that  shot  from  the  contempt- 
uous expression  of  another,  the  stolid  indifference 
that  mantled  the  whole  look  and  position  of 
others,  were  the  betrayers  of  interior  depravity, 
revealers  of  personal  guilt. 

And  what  words  were  these  that  they  were 
hearing  !  No  accusation  was  hurled  at  them  : 
no  scorn  met  their  aggravated  guilt  :  no  reproach 
was  leveled  at  their  long,  bad  lives.  This  Man 
above  all  other  men;  this  divine  Teacher  of  His 
race,  looks  at  them  with  a  face  softened  to  deep- 
est pity,  stretches  out  to  them  an  open  palm, 
speaks  to  them  in  words  which  thrill  with  love, 
calls  them  from  their  sad  bad  lives  as  a  brother 
with  a  dying  agony  might  call,  as  a  father  in  full 
compassion  and  ready  to  forgive  might  call ! 

The  three  parables  are  a  three-fold  argument 
and  appeal.  First,  we  have  the  silly  sheep 
exchanging  the  green  pasture-grounds  for  the 
wild  barren  mountains,  showing  the  folly  of  the 
sinner  in  forsaking  tlie  place  of  peace  and  safety. 
Then,  we  have  the  coin  fallen  and  lost  upon  the 


CHRIST   THE   PEOrLIi:  S    PREACHER.  257 

floor  and  concealed  in  the  dust,  its  stamp 
unerased  and  its  value  undiminished,  showing 
the  self-degradation  of  the  sinner,  yet  with  the 
possibilities  of  his  recovery. 

Thirdly,  we  have  the  3^ounger  son  in  his 
ungoverned  willfulness,  breaking  away  from 
home,  squandering  his  inheritance,  and  degrad- 
ing himself  to  vile  companionship  and  the  care 
of  repulsive  beasts.  First,  there  is  lost  one  of  a 
hundred,  th.en  one  of  ten,  then  one  of  two. 
First,  a  comparatively  small  proportion  of  all  is 
lost,  then  a  tithe  of  all,  then  a  superlatively 
large  amount,  one  of  only  two  sons.  First  it  is 
a  brute,  then  a  coin,  and  then  a  man.  The  sheep, 
the  silver,  the  son,  one  in  the  wild  mountains, 
one  i^i  the  floor  dust,  one  in  the  swine-pens, 
bring  out  vividly  the  wretchedness  of  the  sinner. 
The  Saviour's  hearers  knew  the  meaning  of  those 
parables,  for  they  spoke  of  their  own  experience. 

Yet  they  were  not  left  in  despair:  theirposi- 
tion  was  not  hopeless.  Over  against  the  wander- 
ing in  the  wilderness  was  the  determined  seeking 
of  the  shepherd  :  over  against  the  concealment 
in  the  dust  of  the  floor  was  the  labor  and  look- 
ing of  the  woman  :  over  against  the  self-will  and 
vileness  of  the  prodigal  was  the  waiting,  longing 
love  of  the  father,  not  willing  that  he  should  per- 
ish but  that  he  should  come  to  repentance.  Then 
in  each  case,  is  the  after-joy  :  the  joy  of  the  neigh- 
bors with  the  shepherd,  the  joy  of  the  female 
friends  with  the  woman,  the  joy  of  the  household 


258  THE   MODEL    LIFE. 

with  the  happy  father,  fii^urcs  of  the  joy  that 
makes  heaven  glad  when  any  hjst  sinner  repents. 

Tlie  sheep  is  brought  back:  the  ccjin  is  re- 
stored :  the  son  is  at  home  again,  the  best  robe 
is  brought  forth,  the  seal-ring  and  the  siioes  are 
put  upon  him,  and  the  stalled  calf  is  killed  and 
there  is  feasting  and  merriment  in  the  old  house 
again.  The  Saviour  looked  into  every  eye 
around  Him,  spoke  to  every  heart  of  that  group 
of  publicans  and  sinners,  woke  memories  and 
fears  and  hopes  and  repentings,  let  us  believe,  in 
many  souls  of  them,  so  that  those  dead  became 
alive  again,  and  those  lost  were  found. 

Christ,  the  Preacher  to  the  people  in  Galilee, 
speaks  the  same  truthful  and  tender  words  to 
every  reader.  Those  beautiful  and  touching  para- 
bles, with  the  color  of  heaven  running  thrcnigh 
them,  are  His  divine  messages  to  every  one  of  us. 
We  are  the  lost  sheep,  we  are  the  lost  coin,  we 
are  the  lost  prodigal.  And  there  is  joy  waiting 
for  our  recovery  :  joy,  as  it  may  be,  of  a  mother, 
who  has  waited  long  in  heaven,  as  the  father  of 
the  prodigal  waited,  for  the  best  tidings  from 
the  earth:  joy,  as  it  may  be,  of  a  child,  plucked 
like  a  bud  out  of  the  earthly  conservatory,  made 
glad  by  the  word  that  fills  the  heavens  with  su- 
premest  joy.  Many  dear  old  friends  of  other 
days,  of  the  happy  youth-time,  as  it  may  be,  the 
loved,  the  departed,  the  longed-for,  wait  and 
watch  for  the  decision  that  shall  waken  among 
them  the  new,  old  joy. 


XXI. 


CHRIST  THE  UNCHANGING  FRIEND. 


ITH  loving  thoughtf Illness  the  early  dis- 
ciples dwelt  upon  the  character  of 
Christ.  Forms  of  expression  start  upon 
us  from  their  writings  and  addresses  so  full  of 
sweet  pathos  and  sterling  trustfulness  and  tri- 
umphant joy,  that  we  arc  arrested  by  them  and 
from  the  general  subject  of  the  epistle  or  dis- 
course we  turn  to  this  new  theme  of  which, 
whatever  was  his  particular  subject,  the  heart  of 
the  writer  or  speaker  was  fullest.  As  the  prim- 
itive rocks  of  our  globe  rise  through  all  subse- 
quent formations  and  crop  out  in  almost  every 
land,  so  through  all  other  themes,  penetrating 
and  rising  above  them,  does  the  greatest  of  all 
themes  project  itself,  in  the  expressed  thought 
of  the  early  Christians. 

With  them,  Christ  is  the  granite  foundation 
and  the  enduring  topmost  stone.  Especially  are 
we  struck  with  this  in  the  nervous,  forceful  writ- 
ings of  the  chiefest  of  the  Apostles.  His  great 
soul  was  full  of  Christ.  Though  he  would  not 
dare  to  say  it  of  himself,  trembling  as  he  did  lest, 
after  having  preached  to  others,  he  himself  should 
be  a  castaway,  yet  his  life  assures  us  that  Christ 

[259J 


260  TIIF    MODEL    LIFE. 

was  formed  in  him  the  liopc  of  ^lory.  Christ 
was  with  him  the  first  and  the  hist,  the  be- 
ginning and  the  end,  for  whom  are  all  things, 
and  by  whom  arc  all  things.  And  so,  whatever 
was  his  theme,  Christ  was  always  tiic  foremost 
character  in  it. 

As  in  some  grand  and  matchless  harmony, 
through  all  the  lile-song  that  he  lifted  u\^  to  the 
praise  of  the  Jvcdcemcr,  Ciirist  was  ever  the 
sweet  and  crowning  and  tmished  refrain.  He 
determined  to  know  nothing  among  the  people 
to  whom  he  wiote  or  s[)oke,  save  Jesus  Christ 
and  Him  crucified.  It  was  a  tille  sufificientl}' 
honorable  for  him  to  sign  himself  the  servant  of 
Jesus  Christ.  Though  a  sciiolar  among  scholars, 
he  gloried  in  tiiat  which  the  wisdom  of  the 
world  considered  the  foolishness  of  the  cross. 
As  a  free-born  Roman  citizen  he  longed  most  of 
all  to  visit  the  capital  of  that  proud  and  all-con- 
quering empire  that  lie  might  "  preach  the 
gospel  to  them  that  are  at  Rome  also."  In  his 
masterl}'  argument  in  the  Epistle  to  the  Romans, 
on  the  weakness  of  the  law  and  the  efficacy  of 
the  gospel  as  a  reliance  for  lost  men,  it  is  with 
exulting  and  triumphant  language  that  he  con- 
cludes the  eighth  chapter,  on  the  impossibility  of 
the  separation  of  Christians  from  their  Lord. 

If  in  another  epistle  he  mentions  the  name  of 
Christ,  he  appends  to  it  the  |ihrase"who  is 
blessed  forevermore."  In  another  place  when 
he  had    occasion  to  say  the  faiih    of    the  Son  of 


God,  he  adds,  "  who  loved  me  and  gave  Himself 
(or  me."  If  he  speaks  of  the  love  of  Christ  it  is 
"  the  love  of  Christ  which  passeth  knowledge." 
It  is  not  enough  to  speak  merely  of  the  gospel, 
but  it  is  "  the  glorious  gospel  of  the  blessed 
God." 

In  the  Epistle  to  the  Hebrews  there  is  a  singu- 
lar sentence  which  stands  in  the  midst  of  practi- 
cal exhortations,  as  an  independent  proposition. 
It  rises  like  a  monument  to  Christ  in  the  path  of 
common  Christian  duty.  It  is  as  though  this 
one  statement  were  enough  to  fortify  any 
requirement  of  Christ.  Do  this:  do  that:  be 
faithful  here  :  be  earnest  there  :  be  watchful 
ever}^ where  :  because,  '^  Jesus  Christ  is  the  same, 
yesterday,  and  to-day,  and  for  ever.''  It  is  enough 
to  strengthen  any  appeal  to  connect  it  with  the 
name  of  Christ.  His  immutability  is  the  proof 
of  every  argument:  the  complement  of  every 
creed,  the  crown  of  every  work.  All  duties  are 
corollaries  from  that  sole  proposition.  It  was 
enough  for  the  dauntless  warriors  of  France  to 
know  that  the  eye  of  the  adored  Emperor 
watched  them  as  they  moved  fearlessly  into  the 
shock  and  strife  of  battle.  It  is  altogether 
enough  for  the  soldiers  of  Immanuel  to  be 
reminded  that  their  great  Captain  is  the  same 
yesterday,  and  to-day,  and  forever:  that  the  eye 
that  has  watched  the  progress  of  the  great  earth- 
struggle  from  the  first,  that  has  marked  the  spot 
where    each    faithful    warrior    has    fallen,    still 


2^)2  THE   MODEL   LIFE. 

watches  the  fortunes  of  the  contest  and  will  give 
each  one  still  who  falls  the  grace  to  shout  with 
the  last  breath,  Thanks  be  unto  God  who  giveth 
us  the  victory,  through  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ. 

This  sentence  reveals  that  loving  trustfulness 
with  which  the  Apostle  and  the  early  disciples 
clung  to  Christ.  vSome  fact  in  regard  to  Him 
who  loved  them  and  died  for  them  rises  through 
the  tide  of  rhetoric  and  the  deductions  of  logic: 
stands  as  the  corner-stone  of  every  argument  and 
every  appeal. 

Here  it  is  CJirisf  s  unchangeableness.  "  Jesus 
Christ  is  the  same  yesterday,  and  to-day,  and 
forever,"  This  is  a  sublime  and  interesting 
statement  and  one  well  fitted  to  cheer  on  in  the 
life  of  faith  those  to  whom  the  Apostle  was 
writing  and  all  who  inherit  or  receive  the 
treasure  of  such  a  truth. 

The  fact  of  Christ's  unchangeableness  an- 
ounces  to  us  His  divinity.  Its  foremost  effect  is 
to  awaken  our  adoration.  There  is  but  one 
being  of  whom  it  can  be  said.  He  is  the  same 
yesterday,  and  to-day,  and  forever.  Change 
characterizes  the  world's  inhabitants.  We  speak 
of  the  everlasting  hills.  But  they  are  only  of 
recent  origin.  Mighty  internal  forces  .have 
remodeled  the  surface  of  the  globe,  crowding 
up  the  mountains  and  depressing  the  beds  of  the 
seas.  The  wear  of  the  elements  is  constantly, 
slowly  but  constantly,  leveling  the  hills  and 
erelong  they  are  to  be  burnt  up.     The  present  is 


Christ  the  unchanging  friend.  263 

one  in  a  succession  of  clianges  which  have 
altered  the  entire  appearance  and  adaptation  of 
the  solid  earth.  Different  orders  of  beings  have 
heretofore  peopled  this  planet  from  any  that  are 
now  living  upon  it,  and  when  the  "  new  earth  " 
shall  be  reconstructed  after  the  final  conflagra- 
tion it  will  undoubtedly  be  the  habitation  of 
ver}'  different  beings  from  those  who  now  dwell 
upon  it.  Change  too  passes  over  all  the  works 
of  man.  Empires  pass  away.  Cities,  once  the 
seats  of  commerce  and  busy  life,  the  capitals  of 
power,  turn  into  heaps  of  ruins.  Thrones 
crumble.  Armies,  nations,  races,  fade  away  like 
dissolving  mists. 


"  Like  the  baseless  fabric  of  a  vision. 
The  cloud-capt  towers,  the  gorgeous  palaces, 
The  solemn  temples,  the  great  globe  itself. 
Yea,  all  which  it  inherits,  shall  dissolve  ; 
And,  like  an  unsubstantial  pageant  faded, 
Leave  not  a  rack  behind." 

But  above  the  world.  Creator  and  Lord   of  it, 
is  One  who  changes  not. 

"  Of  old  He  laid  the  foundation  of  the  earth  : 

And  the  heavens  are  the  work  of  His  hands. 

They  shall  perish,  but  He  shall  endure: 

Yea,  all  of  them  shall  wax  old  like  a  garment : 

As  a  vesture  shall    He  change  them   and    they   shall   be 

changed : 
But  He  is  the  same,  and  His  years  shall  have  no  end." 


264  THE    MODKL    LIFE, 

"With  Him  is  no  variableness,  neither  shadow 
of  tnrning^."  "  Jesus  Christ  is  the  same  yester- 
dav,  and  to-day,  and  forever."  This  attribute  of 
divinity  is  His.  We  may  feel  therefore  that  we 
come  to  one  wlio  is  no  less  than  God  Himself. 
Gratefully  and  linmbly  we  should  ad(jre  Him. 
Whenever  weacklress  Him,  as  He  presents  Him- 
self to  US,  in  His  various  offices  of  grace,  whether 
as  our  Prophet,  our  Priest,  or  our  King,  we 
should  say  with  Thomas,  "  My  Lord  and  my 
God."  From  our  hearts,  in  harmony  with  the 
praise  which  rises  before  the  throne  from  the 
angels  and  the  elders  and  the  heavenly  hosts, 
whose  number  is  ten  thousand  times  ten  thous- 
and and  thousands  of  thousands,  should  ascend 
the  ascription,  "  W(jrthy  is  the  Lamb  that  was 
slain  to  receive  power,  and  riches,  and  wisdom, 
and  strength,  and  honor,  and  glory,  and  blessing." 
At  all  times,  when  we  feel  the  need  of  superior 
strength  and  better  wisdom  and  pardon  of  our 
sins  and  justification  with  God,  we  can  call  to 
mind  the  fact  that  our  Redeemer  and  Advocate 
is  the  same  yesterday,  and  to-day,  and  forever. 

Christ's  unchangeableness  promotes  perfect 
confidence  \\\  Him.  We  have  in  our  hands  the 
record  of  His  love  for  man,  of  His  love  for,  and 
His  gracious  dealings  with,  His  people,  of  His 
promises  to  His  enemies  and  to  His  friends.  We 
know  what  He  has  been  to  us  and  what  he  has 
done  for  us.  When  the  world  lay,  prospectivel3% 
in  the  guilt  of  sin,  when  its   populations  were  all 


CHKIST    THK    UNCHANGING    FUIEND.  265 

seen  to  be  estranged  from  God  and  exposed  to 
His  just  and  deserved  curse,  Clirist  came  for- 
ward as  their  Redeemer.  He  proposed,  volun- 
tarily, to  die  for  them,  at  such  time  as  should  be 
best ;  in  the  meantime,  to  have  His  purposed 
death  so  announced  to  them,  that  they  could 
look  forward  to  it  as  a  sure  thing  and  rely  upon 
it.  When  the  ages  of  darkness  and  human 
guilt,  prepaiatory  to  His  advent,  had  rolled 
gloomily  into  tlie  past  eternity  ;  in  the  fullness 
of  time,  when  the  scattered  races  of  men  had 
universally  corrupted  their  way  and  their  hearts, 
so  that  the  need,  the  necessity  of  Redempti(jn 
was  everywhere  felt  ;  when  the  earth  bore  upon 
its  torn  and  scarred  surface  the  signs  of  the 
curse,  and  death  had  ridged  all  its  plains  with 
graves  so  that  His  presence  would  be  hailed  who 
is  the  resurrection  and  the  life  ;  when  the  pop- 
ulation of  the  globe  had  become  immense  ;  when 
human  power,  in  the  rise  and  fall  of  successive 
empires,  had  declared  its  weakness  ;  when  human 
wisdom  in  the  seats  of  its  finished  learning  and 
through  the  instructions  of  its  sages  had  mani- 
fested its  utter  insufficiency  to  grapple  with  the 
greatest  truths  and  to  satisfy  the  wants  of  the 
mind  ;  when  even  the  Hebrew  system,  with  all 
its  ceremonial  magnificence  and  impressiveness, 
with  its  pure  morality  and  its  t3pes  and  shadows 
the  promise  of  better  things  to  come,  had  deteri- 
orated from  its  ancient  puiity  into  empty  tradi- 
tions and  formal  routine  :  and  when  the  way  was 


266  THE  Model  life:. 

prepared  by  divine  providence  for  the  spread  of 
the  gospel,  Christ,  long-promised  and  long- 
awaited,  came  ;  came,  to  achieve  the  redemption 
of  the  world.  He  lived  among  us  in  such  a  won- 
derful manner  as  to  demonstrate  His  claim  to  be 
the  Son  of  God,  speaking  as  never  man  spake, 
walking  in  a  pathway  sucii  as  no  other  one  hath 
ever  used,  enduring  what  mere  humanity  has 
never  endured  from  devils,  men,  and  even  from 
His  Father. 

At  last,  after  a  pretended  trial,  after  cruel  mock- 
ings,  after  basest  ingratitude,  sinking  under  His 
cross,  pierced  with  a  chaplet  of  thorns,  bearing 
the  world's  sins,  wounded  for  our  transgressions, 
as  a  lamb  to  the  slaughter  He  went  to  Calvary 
to  die,  the  just  for  the  unjust,  the  Saviour  of  sin- 
ners. Such  as  He  was  throughout  that  life,  in 
that  fearful  dying,  such  is  He  always.  "Jesus 
Christ  is  the  same  3'esterday,  and  to-day,  and  for- 
ever." He  loves  sinners  still,  with  the  love  that 
He  had  when  He  left  heaven  for  them,  when  He 
cried,  as  a  heart-broken  parent  for  lost  children, 
to  all  the  weary  and  heavy-laden,  "  Come  unto 
me,  and  I  will  give  you  rest."  We  cannot  reflect 
on  what  He  has  done  from  the  over-flowings  of 
His  affection  for  us  without  feeling  a  most  per- 
fect ctjutidence  in  Him  promoted  by  our  thought. 
Ciirist's  dear  love  and  gracious  dealings  with 
His  people  also  promote  confidence.  It  is  for 
them  He  preserves  the  world  which  He  created. 
Were  it  not  for  His  people  He  would  permit  the 


CHRIST   THE    UNOHANGINO   FRIEND.  267 

fire  to  burst  forth  and  consume  the  globe.  The 
true  liistory  of  the  world  is  the  History  of  Re- 
demption. The  great  mind  of  Edwards  seized 
upon  this  central  idea,  and  in  his  profound  work 
on  this  subject  we  can  see  developed  the  true 
theory  of  human  history.  Thrones,  principal- 
ities, powers,  armies  and  navies,  the  contests  of 
nations  and  races,  arts,  sciences,  inventions,  im- 
provements, trade,  commerce,  learning,  enter- 
prise, discoveries,  these  are  but  the  digressions 
of  history  :  its  main  volume  is  the  work  of  Christ. 
The  thread  of  the  world's  story  is  the  love  of  the 
Redeemer  for  His  people.  Before  He  came, 
His  thoughts  were  given  to  them.  Throughout 
the  commotions  and  changes  of  all  time,  He  has 
rescued  them,  at  one  time  calling  them  to  go  into 
a  land  that  they  knew  not  of,  at  another  urging 
them  forth  from  doomed  cities,  again  bearing 
them  safely  in  the  ark  over  the  sunken  world, 
bringing  them  forth  with  a  mighty  hand  from  the 
house  of  bondage,  causing  their  enemies  to  flee 
before  them,  raising  up  defenses  for  them  among 
the  powerful,  conferring  upon  them  gifts  of 
position,  power,  influence,  control,  until,  once 
despised,  they  are  now  the  foremost  in  all 
the  qualities  of  greatness.  And  He  who  has 
thus  guarded  and  blessed  His  people,  is  the  same, 
yesterday,  and  to-da}',  and  forever.  "  If  He  be 
lor  us,  who  can  be  against  us?"  Who  can  fail 
to  have  assured  confidence  in  Him  ? 

He  stops   not  with    what  He  has  done.     His 


'268  THE    MODEL    LIFE. 

promises  to  thcin,  wliicli  shall  in  no  wise  fail, 
insure  still  larger  and  ever  increasing  blessings 
throughout  all  time.  His  people  are  to  have 
dominion,  and  through  them  Christ  is  to  reign 
supreme  over  all  the  earth.  Shall  we,  can  we 
doubt,  distrust,  such  a  Head  over  all  things  to 
His  Church  ? 

Besides,  we  have  been,  personally,  the  sharers 
in  such  blessings  from  Him,  that  we  ought  to 
cherish  the  firmest  trust  in  Him.  He  who  has 
loved  us,  who  has  died  for  us,  who  has  pardoned 
some  of  us,  and  accepted  us  as  co-heirs  with 
Himself,  is  forever  the  same,  and  forever  will 
delight  to  exalt  and  bless  us.  What  He  has  done 
for  us  is  only  the  proof  of  what  He  is  willing  to 
do.  What  He  has  been  to  us,  through  changes, 
trials,  fears,  joys,  that  are  past,  He  is  willing  still 
to  be. 

Memory,  therefore,  may  bind  us,  by  its  spell,  to 
the  cross.  Thoughts  of  other  days  may  be  as 
golden  links  to  hold  us  true  to  Christ,  who  is  the 
same  yesterday,  and  to-day,  and  forever. 

Christ's  unchangeableness  pledges  to  us,  the 
divine  sympathy.  If  there  is  au)'^  fact  that  stands 
boldly,  prominently,  out  in  the  recorded  life  of 
Jesus,  it  is  His  intense  sympathy  for  burdened 
and  distressed  humanity.  Moved  by  that,  He 
came  among  them,  on  His  redemptive  work. 
The  sight  of  earth's  woes,  the  hearing  of  its 
groans,  the  agony  of  its  struggling,  perplexed, 
dissatisfied    generations,    touched     His    infinite 


CHRIST   THE    UNCHANGING    FiCIEND.  269 

heart,  and  drew  forth  expressions  and  acts  of 
tenderest  benevolent  synipath}'.  And  while  He 
was  with  men,  He  was  moved  by  their  sorrows 
and  distresses.  He  saw  them  wandering  and 
scattered  and  defenseless,  as  sheep  that  have  no 
shepherd,  and  He  hjnged  to  take  them  in  His 
arms  and  carry  them  in  His  bosom,  and  lead  them 
beside  still  waters,  and  protect  them  within  His 
fold.  The  poor,  the  orphaned,  the  distressed, 
those  who  bore  heavy  bnidens,  and  whom  the 
great  and  powerful  and  rich  scorned,  were  those 
to  whom  He  preached  the  gfispel,  and  whom  He 
most  tenderly  welcomed  to  Himselt.  Through 
the  thick  darkness  in  which  they  groped  on  sin's 
mountains  He  caused  the  pure  light  of  His  love 
to  beam  upon  them,  in  which  they  could  walk 
safely,  fearing  no  evil.  Over  the  floods  upon 
which  they  were  tossed  fearfully.  He  caused 
His  voice  U)  be  heard  by  them  saying,  "  I  am  the 
way,  and  the  truth,  and  the  life:  he  that  cometh 
to  me  shall  never  perish."  We  might  take  up 
particular  instances  of  His  manifested  sympathy, 
and  learn  from  them  what  Ho  will  be  tcj  us  who 
is  the  same  yesterday,  and  to-day,  and  forever. 

As  He  looked  from  Olivet  upon  the  city  that 
slumbered  beneath  Him,  He  broke  forth  into 
lamentation  over  it  as  a  Father  might  bewail  the 
ruin  of  his  children,  until  His  utterance  was 
broken  by  His  grief,  so  that  the  sentence  is 
preserved    for  us  interrupted  by  his  tears.     "  If 


270  THE   MODEL    LIFE. 

thou  liadst  known,  at  least  in  this  thy  day,  the 
thinj^s  that  belonjj  unto  thy  peace, — but  now 
are  they  hid  from  thine  eyes." 

When  grieved  by  the  continued  rejection 
wliich  He  received  from  those  among  whom 
m<jst  of  His  mighty  works  were  done,  so  that 
He  could  not  forbear  a  declaration  of  the  woe 
which  they  were  bringing  rapidly  upon  them- 
selves, as  if  oppressed  by  the  fearful  thought 
and  willing  still  to  do  what  He  could  to  save 
them.  His  heart  gushes  over  in  one  more  appeal  to 
them,  "  Come  unto  me,  and  I  will  give  you  rest." 
With  all  that  wealth  of  love  which  was  paralleled 
only  by  the  wealth  of  His  exhaustless  supplies. 
He  utters  to  all  the  needy  this  unlimited 
promise,  '•  He  that  cometh  to  me  shall  never 
hunger,  and  he  that  believeth  on  me  shall  never 
thirst."  And  what  were  all  those  marvelous 
miracles  which  distinguished  and  graced  His  life 
but  the  manifestations  of  His  blessed  sympathy 
for  the  poor,  the  suffering,  the  sorrowing.?  In 
the  clear  waters  of  the  Pool  of  Bethesda,  where 
the  infirm  man  was  healed,  you  raa}'^  see 
mirrored  the  heart  of  Christ  toward  you,  what- 
ever may  be  your  bodily  or  mental  maladies. 
He  whose  life  is  summed  up  in  that  expressive 
and  comprehensive  phrase,  "  He  went  about 
doing  good  :"  who  restored  the  withered  hand 
of  one  ;  who  gave  the  blind  men  sight,  and 
caused  the  deaf  to  hear  His  words,  and  made 
the  lame  leap  for  joy;    who  called  back  to  life 


CHRIST   THE    UNCHANGING    FKIKND.  271 

the  only  son  of  his  mother,  and  she  a  widow  ; 
who  brought  joy  to  the  saddened  house  of  the 
ruler  of  the  synagogue  by  raising  from  death 
his  youthful  and  lamented  daughter  ;  who  loved 
Martha  and  Mary  and  their  brother  Lazarus  so 
well  that  He  restored  him  to  them  after  he  had 
been  dead  four  days  ;  He  will  feel  for  you  what- 
ever may  be  3'our  sorrows  and  distresses. 

You  cannot  lack  the  tender  sympathy  of 
Christ :  for  He  is  the  same,  yesterday,  and  to-day, 
and  forever.  And  every  scene  and  act  of  His 
blessed  life  which  brings  out  to  view  His  love 
for  others,  His  tenderness  for  the  burdened  and 
bereaved,  is  a  pledge  of  the  same  sympathy  on 
His  part  for  you.  in  all  your  afflictions  He  is 
afflicted.  When  you  watch  by  the  sick,  Jesus 
watches  with  you.  When  alone  you  suffer  and 
feel  that  no  one  cares  for  you,  )'ou  are  not  alone, 
for  He  is  with  you  who  will  never  leave  nor 
forsake  His  people.  When  you  mourn  over  the 
waywardness  of  those  for  whom  your  prayers 
have  been  mingled  with  3'our  tears,  you  may  be 
sure  of  His  sympathy  who  came  unto  His  own 
and  His  own  received  Him  not.  When  you 
stand  solitary  and  smitten  by  the  grave  where 
you  have  buried  the  best  part  of  your  life,  you 
shall  hear  his  sympathetic  voice  whispering  to 
you,  "Thy  friend  shall  rise  again."  And  when 
your  fluttering  and  disturbed  heart  fails  to 
appropriate  all  the  truth  of  the  assurance,  you 
shall  hear  Him  again  saying,  "  I  am  the  resurrec- 


272  THK    MODEL    T,IFE. 

tion.aiul  tlielife  :  he  that  bcliovofh  in  me,  though 
he  were  dead,  yet  shall  he  live:  and  whosoever 
liveth,  and  believeth  in  nie  shall  never  die." 

Into  that  heart  that  will  entertain  Christ  and 
will  believe  His  words  shall  come  solace  and 
strength  sufficient  to  bear  all  trials,  to  press  for- 
ward along  every  burning  track,  though  it  be 
even  in  the  footsteps  of  Him  who  trod  the 
wine-press  alone. 

Christ's  unchangeablcness  assures  us  of  a  cer- 
tain ivay  of  salvation.  As  a  Saviour  also  He  "  is 
the  same  yesterday,  and  to-day,  and  forever." 
The  same  love  that  led  Him  down  from  heaven 
to  this  world,  that  led  Him  forth  among  men  on 
His  divine  ministrations,  that  led  Him  to  endure 
the  agonies  and  pains  of  His  fearful  death  for 
sinners,  still  fills  His  heart.  He  looks  now  from 
the  heights  of  heaven  with  the  same  compassion 
upon  all  who  are  estranged  from  God  that  He 
had  when  from  Olivet  He  looked  upon  Jerusalem 
and  wept  over  it.  The  same  melting  words  of 
entreaty  and  soirowful  symj^ath}-  which  He 
addressed  to  sinners  in  tones  which  broke  their 
hearts,  He  would  still  address  to  us.  The  same 
plain  and  simple  terms  of  salvation  on  which  He 
ever  invited  the  lost  to  Himself  are  the  terms 
which  He  offers  to  us.  And  these  terms 
He  offers  to  every  one  of  us.  As  His  redemption 
was  not  a  Particular  Redemption,  but  a  Redemp- 
tion for  all  men,  a  Redemption  so  broad  as 
to  include  every  sinner  in  it  and  not  a  particular, 


CHRIST   THE   UNCHANGING    FRIEND.  273 

limited  number  of  favored  sinners,  so  none  are 
now  excluded  from  His  mercy,  unless  by  their 
own  voluntary  rejection  of  Him.  If  any  one 
among  us  is  lost,  it  is  because  he  will  not  come 
unto  Christ  that  he  may  have  life.  His  arms  are 
thrown  broadly  open  to  welcome  and  clasp  us 
ail.  He  is  not  willing  that  any  should  perish  but 
that  all  should  come  to  repentance  :  and  if  any 
do  perish  it  is  by  grieving  first  the  heart  of 
Christ  and  then  by  hardening  their  own  hearts. 

His  sweet  love  and  pity  are  ever  and  ever  the 
same. 

He  looks  upon  those  who  are  children,  with  the 
same  tenderness  with  which  he  looked  upon  the 
children  of  Perea,  when  He  laid  His  hands  upon 
them  and  blessed  them  and  said,  "  Suffer  little 
children  to  come  unto  me  and  forbid  them  not  : 
for  of  such  is  the  kingdom  of  God."  That  sweet 
Saviour  longs  to  be  their  Saviour.  He  has 
never  taken  back  those  precious  words,  "  I  love 
them  that  love  me  and  those  that  seek  me  early 
shall  find  me." 

The  same  full  pardon  which  He  freely  be- 
stowed upon  the  sinner  who  brought  an  alabaster 
box  of  precious  ointment,  as  He  sat  at  meat  in  a 
Pharisee's  house,  and  began  to  wash  His  feet 
with  tears  and  to  wipe  them  with  her  flowing 
hair  and  to  anoint  them  with  the  ointment,  when 
He  said,  "  Her  sins  which  are  many  are  forgiven 
her,"   would    He   gladly  bestow  upon   any  and 


274  TFIK    MODEL    LIFE. 

every  one  of    us,  no  matter  1k)\v  n^any  and  ^reat 
our  sins  have  been. 

Thai  divine  grace  which  He  manifested  when 
in  tones  of  pity  and  love  lie  said  unto  a  broken- 
hearted sinner,  "  Go,  and  sin  no  more,"  I  le  would 
delight  to  manifest  to  us.  The  Saviour  of  the 
Magdalene,  out  of  whom  He  cast  seven  devils, 
would  be  the  Saviour  of  the  most  guilty  one. 
He  who  told  the  story  of  the  Prodigal  Son  to 
illustrate  his  own  feelings  for  the  wayward, 
would  to-day  welcome  to  His  heart  anyone 
who  has  wandered  away  in  the  sins  and  misery 
of  the  world  like  that  guilty  prodigal.  The 
same  love  that  He  had  for  the  rich  young  man, 
who  went  away  from  Him  sorrowfully,  because 
he  could  not  quite  give  up  the  world  for  Christ, 
He  has  for  those  now  who  only  lack  the  one 
thing  needful.  The  sad,  melting  words,  wrung 
from  His  heart,  over  the  rejection  of  those  for 
whom  He  came,  "  How  often  would  I  have  gath- 
ered thy  children  together — but  ye  would  not," 
reveal  His  feelings  toward  those  who  now  reject 
Him.  Nay,  that  still  more  pitiful  prayer,  which, 
even  in  His  dying  moments  He  offered  for  His 
murderers,  "  Father,  forgive  them,  for  they  know 
not  what  they  do,"  showed  what  Christ's  feel- 
ings are  for  those  who  have  crucified  Him  afresh 
by  rejecting  Him  as  a  Saviour.  He  whose  life  is 
given  to  us  in  the  gospels,  whose  heart  is  bared 
to  us  in  these  instances  of  His  pity  and  compas- 


CHRIST    TIIK    UNCIIANGtNG    FRIEND.  275 

sion  and  forgiveness,  "  is  the  same  yesterday,  and 
to-day,  and  forever." 

The  personal  appeal  comes  to  us,  Will  we 
accept  Him  as  our  own  Saviour,  and  find,  as 
those  found  who  came  to  Him  when  He  was  on 
earth,  how  great  and  rich  and  full  His  love  is? 


XXII. 


CHRIST'S   CLAIM    ON    MEN   OF   INFLUENCE. 

N  all  our  so-called  Christian  communilies 
there  is  a  body  of  men,  varying  in 
number,  in  different  places,  but  unvary- 
ing in  their  position,  who  accept  Christianity 
intellectually,  but  who  stand  aloof  from  Christ 
personally  and  practically.  These  men  would 
consider  themselves  discredited  if  opposition  to 
Christ  or  indifference  to  His  Kingdom  were 
imputed  to  them.  They  would  not  be  considered 
so  unintelligent  as  to  be  thought  uncognizant  of 
the  perpetual  miracle  of  the  history  of  Christian- 
ity in  the  world,  which  as  Mr.  Lecky  character- 
izes it,  was  such  "  that  its  teachers  should  bend 
the  mightiest  monarchs  to  their  will,  and  stamp 
their  influence  on  every  page  of  legislation,  and 
direct  the  whole  course  of  civilization  for  a 
thousand  years."  Sometimes  they  think  of 
themselves  as  neutrals  :  not  regarding  the 
maxim  of  the  Master,  "  He  who  is  not  with  me  is 
against  me."  Perhaps  they  claim  that  they  are 
Christians,  though  without  any  standard  of 
Christianity  that  would  sanction  the  claim. 
Generally,  and  more  fairly,  they  honestly  con- 

[V7] 


278  TFIE    MODEL    LIFE. 

cede  that  they  have  not  accepted  Christ  as  a  per- 
sonal Redeemer  and  Lord  :  i.  c.  have  not  gone  to 
Him  for  salvation  from  their  sins,  and  have  not 
yielded  their  lives  to  Him  in  unconditional 
obedience  to  all  His  commands.  Still  they  hold 
the  Bible  to  be  the  Word  of  God,  Christ  to  be 
the  Saviour  of  sinners,  religion  to  be  the  duty 
of  man,  faith  to  be  the  door  into  the  Kingdom, 
the  Holy  Spirit  to  be  the  renewer  of  the  soul, 
death  to  be  the  end  of  probation,  eternity  to 
be  the  realm  of  destiny.  Indeed,  accepting  the 
Scripture,  they  accept  its  doctrines,  and  recog- 
nize its  prescribed  duties. 

They  are  men  of  greater  or  less  influence  :  to 
whom  a  certain  number  look  as  models  or 
examples  for  themselves:  at  least  as  those  to 
whom  less  decided  and  less  intelligent  men  can 
point  in  the  way  of  excuse  for  their  own  inatten- 
tion or  indifference  to  Christ.  I  propose  to 
consider  here  Tlw  claim  of  Christ  on  men  of  influ- 
ence. 

The  claim  of  Christ  is  the  claim  of  one  who  is 
worthy  of  the  deference  of  such  men.  There  is 
not  one  of  them  who  would  deny  that  prtjposi- 
tion.  Whatever  ma}^  be  their  opinion  of  Chris- 
tians, they  have  a  sincere  respect  for  Clirist. 
Whatever  criticisms  they  may  level  at  the  way 
in  which  the  Lord  is  represented  by  those  who 
assume  to  follow  Him,  they  have  no  animad- 
versions to  make  either  in  res[)ect  to  His  person 
or  His  character  or   His  mediatorial  work.     In 


Christ's  claim  on  men  of  influence.       279 

their  thought  they  exalt  Clirist  to  the  first  place. 
He  is  Lord  of  all.  He  is  perfect  in  His  attri- 
butes and  in  all  that  makes  Him  what  He  is. 
His  redemptive  office  is  one  that  demands  the 
homage  and  gratitude  of  all  men. 

There  is  no  need,  therefore,  of  argument  to  con- 
vince them  that  the  Saviour  is  worthy  of  their 
deference.  When  then  He  comes  to  them  with 
the  claim  for  their  lives,  for  their  love  and  loyalty, 
for  their  obedience  and  service, they  should  read- 
ily, gladly,  gratefully,  yield  to  the  claim,  and  say 
likeThomas,"M3'  Lord,  and  my  God!"  They  have 
nothing  to  object  to  the  worthiness  of  Him  who 
makes  the  supreme  demand  upon  them.  They 
respect  the  reverence  which  He  has  received 
from  uncounted  numbers  of  believers,  the  devo- 
tion which  has  made  men  atid  women  and  chil- 
dren willing,  most  glad,  to  sacrifice  anything 
and  everything  most  dear  for  Him,  the  love 
which  has  proved  itself  to  be  the  most  intense  of 
human  passions  as  it  has  burned  and  glowed  and 
endured  for  Him.  His  claim  upon  them,  there 
fore,  should  have  quick  and  thorough  acquies- 
cence. They  should  ask,  "  Lord,  what  wilt  Thou 
have  me  to  do?"  He  is  worthy  who  asks  for 
their  lives. 

The  claim  of  Christ  on  men  of  influence  should 
be  accepted  because  Christianity  is  for  strong 
men.  "  Solid  food  is  for  full-grown  men,  even 
those  who  by  reason  of  use  have  their  senses  ex- 
ercised to  discern  good  and  evil."     The  truth  of 


280  TMK    MODKL    LIFH. 

Christianity  is  the  weighticsttruth  that  challenges 
human  thought  and  attention.  It  is  all  solid 
food,  and  is,  therefore,  for  full-grown  men,  for 
those  who  b}' reason  of  experience  have  had  their 
senses  exercised  to  discern  good  and  evil,  to  dis- 
tinguish the  true  and  the  false.  It  is  indeed  sim- 
ple in  its  essentials,  so  simple  that  a  child  can 
grasp  it :  but  its  very  simplicity  commends  it  also 
to  mature  minds.  It  is  clear  truth.  The  great 
maxims  of  law  are  clear  and  simple.  The  facts 
of  science  are  plain  to  the  understanding.  The 
regulations  of  life  are  such  that  common 
men  can  comprehend  them.  But  all  these  are 
more  or  less  profound.  Indeed, the  greatest  truths 
are  both  simple  and  profound.  The  sea  has  shal- 
lows in  which  a  child  can  wade  :  it  has  depths 
beyond  the  sounding  of  the  strongest  man. 

The  greatest  question  that  a  human  soul  can 
ask  is  the  question.  What  shall  I  do  to  be  saved  ? 
The  answer  to  that  question  is  within  the  reach 
of  humble  intellect :  it  has  meaning  in  it  deep 
enough  for  the  profoundest  philosophy.  No 
man  loses  his  self-respect  who  makes  that  ques- 
tion foremost.  No  man  misuses  his  time  or  his 
abilities  or  his  opportunities  who  laj'S  every- 
thing else  aside  till  that  question  is  settled.  It 
is  a  question  whose  relative  impoitance  is  meas- 
ured by  the  worth  of  the  immortal  soul.  It  is  a 
question  whose  rank  may  be  determined  by  the 
bliss  of  heaven  or  the  woe  of  hell.  It  is  a  ques- 
tion that  starts  from  the  cross  of  a  suffering  Re- 


Christ's  claim  on  men  of  influence.       281 

deemer:  that  finds  its  importance  in  the  trans- 
cendent sacrifice  of  the  Son  of  God.  The  bri«rht- 
est  intellects  that  God  has  created,  the  mature 
and  disciplined  spirits  whose  studies  have  swept 
through  peopled  space,  who  are  old  and  learned 
in  the  ways  of  God,  recognize  no  subject  more 
vast  than  this,  more  worthy  to  look  into.  Men 
of  influence  can  find  nothing  which  commands 
their  attention  more  thoroughly.  The  claim  of 
Christ,  through  the  work  of  His  redemption,  is 
the  first  claim  upon  the  strongest  minds. 

The  whole  range  and  sweep  of  revealed  Chris- 
tianity, in  all  its  doctrines  and  demands,  chal- 
lenges the  notice,  nay,  tiie  unqualified  loyalty,  of 
the  sturdiest  minds.  Longinus,  who  was  called 
a  "  walking  librar}'^,''  the  acutest  critic  and 
scholar  of  his  day,  a  pagan,  as  we  say,  called  the 
first  sentence  of  the  Bible  one  of  the  most  sub- 
lime in  any  writings.  Measure,  if  3^ou  can,  the 
thought  of  God,  in  the  beginning,  creating.  Sir 
William  Jones  wrote,  "  Independently  of  the 
divine  origin  of  the  Scriptures,  I  have  found  in 
them  more  true  wisdom,  more  practical  good 
sense,  and  warmer  benevolence,  a  higher  strain 
of  thought  and  poetry,  than  I  have  found  *  *  in 
all  other  works  put  together."  He  was  the 
broadest  scholar  of  his  time.  Christianity  cannot 
be  exhausted  by  you.  The  deeper  you  go,  the 
richer  will  be  its  veins  and  deposits  of  truth. 

Strong  men  have  found  the  claim  of  Christ  to 
be  imperative  and  exhaustive.     They  have  found 


282  tup:  modkl  mfe. 

that  tliere  was  solid  iootl  in  it  for  full  grown 
men,  that  however  thoroughly  their  senses  had 
been  exercised  to  discern  truth,  there  was  in  it 
that  which  was  important  and  deei^  enough  both 
to  employ  and  to  satisfy  them.  It  has  won  on 
its  merits.  It  has  stood  all  tests.  Nothing  else 
has  encountered  such  enmity  as  has  the  cross  of 
Christ.  Every  sword  has  been  unsheathed 
against  it.  Ingenuity  has  spent  itself  to  destroy 
it.  But  it  has  held  its  place  :  and  it  has  had 
the  support  and  the  loyalty  of  the  best  minds. 
The  roll  of  faith  is  a  roll  of  eminent  names. 
Standing  among  the  common  men  who  have 
embraced  Christ,  are  the  scholars  of  many  ages, 
are  the  leaders  of  human  opinion,  are  the  men  of 
most  eminent  manhood,  are  those  who  have 
wrought  most  efficiently  for  the  good  of  their 
fellow-men. 

The  books  of  widest  teaching  are  the  works  of 
Christian  writers.  The  science  of  best  authen- 
ticity rests  on  the  research  of  Ciiristian  explorers. 
Men  of  thought,  men  of  acticjn  as  well,  men  of 
the  study  and  men  of  the  cabinet  and  the  camp, 
have  stood  for  Christ,  have  acknowledged  that 
they  owed  all  to  Him.  Their  best  life  has  been 
their  life  in  Christ.  Their  common  confession  is, 
Christ  liveth  in  me.  Gladstone,  bearing  the 
burdens  of  an  empire,  is  kept  in  serenity,  because 
he  daily  communes  with  his  Lord,  who  is  the 
Lord  of  all  men.  He  has  lately  written  :  "  All 
I  write,  and  all  I  think,  and  all  I   hope,  is  based 


Christ's   claim  on  men  of  imi.uknok.       283 

upon  the  divinity  of  our  Lord,  the  one  central 
hope  of  our  poor  wayward  race." 

Bismarck,  when  he  presided  in  the  imperial 
cabinet,  daily  led  his  household  and  his  servants 
in  family  prayer  for  divine  strength  and  light, 
looking  to  Jesus  the  beginner  and  the  finisher  of 
faith.  In  palaces,  in  universities,  in  senates,  in 
workshops  and  in  ships,  wherever  there  is  leader- 
ship, there  is  also  faith  in  Christ.  The  strongest 
men  are  on  His  side.  You  join  those  who  weigh 
the  most,  intellectually  and  morall}^  when  you 
become  a  Christian. 

Men  of  influence  owe  it  to  themselves  not  to  be 
on  the  side  of  Satan.  His  service  is  a  degrad- 
ing service  :  it  is  as  mean  as  wicked.  There  are 
two  sides,  Christ's  and  Satan's.  Those  who  are 
not  with  Christ  are  with  His  enemy.  He  takes 
no  cognizance  of  neutrality.  Neutrality  is  ruled 
out.  It  simply,  is  not.  The  enrollment  of  men  is 
under  one  standard  or  the  other — the  white  ban- 
ner of  Christ,  the  black  flag  of  Satan.  Man 
must  be  a  free  man  or  a  menial :  and  freedom  is 
only  in  Christ. 

Not  to  be  with  Him,  for  Him,  is  to  be  against 
Him.  Such  is  His  own  decision.  Men,  there- 
fore, who  hold  places  of  influence,  who  decide 
for  other  men,  who  carry  a  following,  who  are 
thought  to  be  good  enough  to  go  by,  should  be 
sensitive  as  to  their  own  Leader,  should  be  care- 
ful not  to  be  for  themselves  on  a  side  which 
their    intelligence    and    their    conscience    pro- 


284  THE   MODEL    LIFE. 

nounce  hurtful  and  destroying.  Every  man  of 
influence  should  be  self-respecting.  lie  should 
hold  himself  aloof  from  the  leader  of  bad  influ- 
ence, from  the  instigator  of  all  evil,  from  that 
infernal  power  by  which  woe  with  sin  has 
desolated  the  fair  earth  and  robbed  its  people  of 
their  peace.  It  is  a  simple  duty  which  every 
such  man  owes  to  himself,  if  there  were  nothing 
else  to  be  thought  of,  to  be  opposed  to  Satan. 

On  the  principle  of  simple  consistency  men  of 
influence  should  yield  to  the  claim  of  Christ. 
Some  of  them  are  fathers,  and  they  claim  respect 
and  obedience  from  their  children.  Some  of 
them  are  employers,  and  they  claim  diligence 
and  fidelity  on  the  part  of  their  employees. 
Some  of  them  are  magistrates,  and  they  claim 
loyalty  and  respect  for  law  on  the  part  of  citizens. 
In  whatever  position  they  are,  they  expect 
gratitude  for  favors,  they  expect  kindness  in 
return  for  kindness,  they  hold  that  love  should 
be  esteemed,  that  dependence  should  be  ac- 
knowledged, that  correct  principles  should 
regulate  business  and  hold  society  together.  It 
is  as  plain  as  an  axiom  with  them  that  one  man 
should  appreciate  what  another  has  done  for 
hi  UK 

Consistenc}',  simplest  consistency,  with  their 
own  demands,  with  their  own  sense  of  what  is 
right,  with  the  practical  principles  which  they 
avow  and  insist  upon,  requires  that  they  should 
yield   to    Christ's  claim.     He   is  your  Creator, 


Christ's   claim  on  men  of  mFLUENCE.       285 

your  Redeemer.  You  owe  everything  to  Him  : 
everything  of  the  world  that  is  worth  having, 
everything  spiritual,  holy,  heavenly.  His  law  is 
supreme  over  you.  His  love  is  unbounded 
for  you.  His  work,  His  sacrifice,  His  agony 
for  you,  are  beyond  words  to  express.  His 
kingdom  is  the  one  government  to  which 
you  owe  your  highest  loyalty.  Over  everything 
of  personality,  of  family,  of  society,  of  national- 
ity, of  common  brotherhood,  rises  the  august 
and  comprehensive  and  loving  claim  of  Christ. 
You  cannot  reject  it,  without  rejecting  your 
own  most  cherished  principles.  You  cannot 
ignore  it,  without  casting  contempt  on  all  your 
better  judgment  in  all  other  affairs. 

You  believe  and  profess  that  men  who  have 
influence  in  society,  in  politics,  in  business,  in 
education,  in  the  progress  of  mankind,  should 
use  that  influence  for  all  that  is  best  in  all  those 
spheres  of  action.  How  can  you  be  consistent 
with  yourself  if  you  do  not  yield  to  the  claim  of 
Christ  for  your  best  service  and  influence,  for 
)'Our  open  and  avowed  loyalty  to  Him  ?  Is  it 
for  you,  and  such  as  you,  to  take  the  course 
which  would  abolish  the  sacraments,  which 
would  do  away  necessarily  with  the  organized 
church,  which  would  leave  Christ  without  any 
open  following,  which  would  antagonize  His 
ordinances  and  His  commands?  You  cannot 
really  maintain  it.  You  must  see  that  on  your 
own    principles    you    should    return    love    for 


286  The  MobEL  Llffi. 

Christ's  love,  you  should  carefully,  rigidly, 
loyally,  fulfill  all  that  Christ  requires  of  those 
whom  he  has  redeemed, 

Meu  of  influence  should  yield  to  Christ's  claim 
because  they  have  influence.  Influence  is  a 
sacred  trust.  It  is  a  providential  power.  God 
has  permitted  you  to  have  it  for  a  holy  purpose. 
You  might  have  been  where  other  men  are,  who 
are  low-down  and  craven  and  mean  and  who  lack 
spirit.  The  splendid  ascendency  which  you 
have  is  the  very  royalty  of  manhood.  This  fine 
authority  which  comes  from  your  station,  from 
your  intellectual  supremacy,  from  your  consist- 
ent character,  from  your  excellent  living,  is  the 
regalest  crown  that  can  be  worn  by  man.  The 
power  that  you  easily  wield  over  other  men, 
because  you  are  their  natural  or  ordained 
superior,  is  higher  than  any  that  is  represented 
by  scepter,  or  that  is  conferred  by  suffrage. 

No  throne  stands  on  such  eternal  principles. 
No  aristocracv  has  such  undisputed  title.  No 
lineage,  traced  by  blood  and  sanctioned  by  deeds, 
gives  such  undoubted  right.  You  stand  where 
you  stand,  because  you  deserve,  in  the  judgment 
of  your  peers,  to  stand  there. 

You  cannot  misapply  or  misuse  your  influence 
without  disloyalty  to  Him  who  has  the  highest 
claim  upon  you.  To  refuse  to  yield  it  all  to 
Christ  is  treason  to  your  best  friend,  to  your 
own  divine  redeemer. 

God    claims   it   for   Himself.     Christ,    by    the 


Christ's   claim  oN  Mkn  of*  INF'LUK^fcE.       ^87 

misery,  and  by  the  merit,  oi  His  passion,  claims 
it  all,  to  be  employed  and  consecrated  in  His  ser- 
vice. Christ  wants  the  best.  He  summons  the 
noblest.  He  docs  not  call  for  only  the  forlorn 
hope. 

One  of  the  great  pictures  of  Defregger,  the 
finest  artist  of  our  day,  in  the  Pinakothek  at 
Munich,  is  entitled.  The  Last  Muster.  The 
armies  of  the  Tyrol  have  gone  down  in  disas- 
trous battle.  The  young  men  who  were  enrolled, 
the  flower  of  those  mountain  valleys,  have  fallen 
in  defense  of  their  homes.  The  veterans, 
schooled  in  the  hard  discipline  of  war,  have 
yielded  to  superior  force.  The  call  comes  back 
from  bloody  fields  and  crowded  hospitals  for 
fresh  recruits.  Then  comes  the  last  muster  of 
old  men,  who  have  long  ago  seen  service,  who 
have  retired  with  the  wounds  and  scars  of  an- 
cient battles,  who  are  unfitted  by  age  and  feeble- 
ness for  further  hardship,  yet  in  whose  aged 
bosoms  the  patriotic  fires  burn  and  who  are 
ready  to  give  their  last  energies  to  home  and 
children  and  country. 

Christ  calls  for  the  choicest  muster.  He  calls 
for  the  men  of  chiefest  influence,  whose  power 
is  acknowledg^ed  :  for  those  who  stand  in  soci- 
ety  in  the  very  foremost  rank.  The  divine 
Leader  calls  for  the  leaders  of  men.  Because 
you  have  influence,  because  where  you  go  others 
will  follow,  because  you  should  lead  upward  and 
not  downward,    Christ's    claims    come    to    you 


288  THE    MODEL    LIFE. 

wilh  authoritative  obligation.  lie  musters  you, 
with  the  mandate  of  kingship,  into  His  service^ 
Were  you  less  than  you  are,  you  should  be 
Christian.  Because  you  are  all  that  you  are 
the  Redeemer's  claim  is  stronger  upon  you. 
The  ascendency  of  your  personality  intensifies 
the  Lord's  demand  for  your  devoted  service. 
The  dominion  that  you  hold  through  the  spirit- 
ual suffrage  of  your  fellows,  co-ordinates  your 
life  with  the  kingdom  of  Christ  on  earth. 


THE  END. 


BS2421.H32 

Aspects  of  Christ.  Studies  of  the  model 

Princeton  Theological  Seminary-Speer  Library 


1    1012  00013  1633 


